Law & Justice
Virginia Judge Orders Removal of Cabin and Belongings from 30‑acre Gandhi Family Land
By Livemint
A Warren County, Virginia, judge ruled that Gregory Black must remove a cabin, hunting stands, huts and personal items from a 30‑acre parcel adjacent to Shenandoah National Park that belongs to the Dr Schiva and Kanu Ramdas Mohandas Gandhi Charitable Trust. The land was owned by Kanu Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, who died in 2016. After his death, the property passed to his wife, Shiva Gandhi, and then to the trust she established in 2020. Black claimed ownership by adverse possession, alleging he had occupied the land since 2008, but could not provide proof required under Virginia law. Judge Daryl L. Funk ordered Black to clear the encroachments within 30 days at his own expense and to hand over possession. He also must pay $11,375 for the Guardian ad Litem representing unknown heirs. The decision was announced on October 21, 2025, following a legal notice received by the trust’s managing trustee, Parimal Desai, in 2025. The case highlights the application of Virginia’s adverse possession rules, which require uninterrupted occupation for 15 years and clear, visible evidence of ownership.
Frequently asked questions
What did Judge Daryl L. Funk order Gregory Black to do?
He ordered Black to remove a cabin, hunting stands, huts and personal items from the 30‑acre parcel and hand over possession within 30 days at his own expense.
Why was Gregory Black unable to prove ownership?
Black could not provide the proof required under Virginia law for adverse possession, which requires uninterrupted occupation for 15 years and clear, visible evidence of ownership.