India, April 15 -- The Bombay high court (HC) has granted partial relief to a lessee in a long-standing legal battle over 782 acres of salt pan land spread across Mulund, Nahur, Bhandup, and Kanjurmarg.

A division bench comprising Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla last week stayed an earlier order passed by a single judge, which had directed the lessee to hand over 632 acres of the land to the salt commissioner, a central government employee who oversees the administration of salt-related matters, including leasing out salt pan lands and managing the salt cess. The bench restrained the central authority from dispossessing the lessee, on the condition that he continues to pay the assignment fees at the prescribed rates.

Howe...