The public interest petition, filed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Thane, Om Prakash Sharma and four others including former president of the Jowhar Municipal Council Baban Tendulkar, has also demanded cent per cent implementation of the government order dated January 27, 1993, relating to the shifting of the headquarters of the additional collector from Thane to Jowhar for the benefit and development of tribals in the district.

Soon after Chief Minister Narayan Rane announced that Thane district would be bifurcated on May 1, there has been a tug-of-war between the state government, which wants Palghar taluka to be designated as the new district's headquarters and local leaders from Jowhar, who want the collectorate to be located in the tribal-dominated belt.