Mumbai, Nov 21: The Mumbai High Court has directed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to demolish illegal shrines which had come up again after demolition without serving notices on their trustees even as the civic body sources said that 791 unauthorised religious places had so far been pulled down in keeping with judicial directive. Hearing a public interest litigation filed by Janhit Manch and its president Bhagwanji Riyani, Justice Ajit Shah and Justice Abhay Oka, on November 19, also ordered transfer of individual cases challenging demolition of shrines from civil courts to the high court.

The PIL alleged that illegal shrines had mushroomed in the city over the years to cover up the unauthorised slums. These shrines on footpaths and middle of roads were creating obstruction to traffic movement and should be removed in the interest of public safety, the PIL said.

In keeping with the earlier directive of the high court to demolish illegal shrines, the civic body had issued demolition notices asking their owners to pull down illegal structures within 24 hours or face demolition.

Bureau Report