Mumbai, Oct 04: Janhit Manch, an NGO, which had filed a PIL highlighting mushrooming of illegal places of worship, has urged the civic body here to demolish these shrines in accordance with the directives of the Mumbai High Court without giving advance notices. However, the NGO has expressed concern over the reported move of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to give advance notices to the illegal religious structures before demolition under section 314 of BMC Act. By giving such notices, BMC was giving scope to these shrines to challenge the action in the court thereby delaying the demolition process, president of the organisation Bhagwanji Raiyani, said. The High Court, on September 24, had directed BMC to take action as per law against the illegal religious structures. The president of Janhit Manch drew the attention of the civic body towards the arguments advanced by its counsel Priti Purandare in the High Court to the effect that notices under section 314 of BMC Act would not be necessary.
Taking serious note of 854 illegal religious shrines in the metropolis, the High Court earlier directed the civic body to take action in accordance with law and file an action taken report within two months.
The PIL has been deferred to November 12 to enable BMC to file the action taken report.
Buerau Report