Will not allow unauthorised buildings to take even one innocent life, says Bombay HC
India Today
Referring to the Maharashtra government resolution of 1998 which restrained civic authorities from demolishing unauthorised structures during the monsoon season, the Bombay High Court on Thursday said that it will not allow unauthorised buildings to take the life of even one 'innocent person'.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday said it will not allow unauthorised buildings to take the life of even one 'innocent person', while taking a serious note of the dangers posed by such structures.
The court was referring to the Maharashtra government resolution of 1998 which restrained civic authorities from demolishing unauthorised structures during the monsoon season.
“Is demolishing an unauthorised building riskier during the rains? What is the logic behind the Government Resolution?” Chief Justice Dipankar Datta asked.
The court was hearing a petition concerning the 2013 Lucky Compound building collapse in the Mumbra area of Thane, which claimed the lives of 76 people. According to the investigators, the collapse took place because the building was illegally constructed on marshy land at breakneck speed without adhering to any regularities.
Advocate Neeta Karnik representing the petitioner told the high court that though the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had served several demolition notices to the unauthorised structures, and had even cut off power and water supply, residents continued to live there and even managed to access power and water through illegal channels.
TMC’s counsel Ram Apte agreed that the buildings in the area were dilapidated and not fit for living. He added that the civic body had sent several demolition notices to the nine buildings, but residents had refused to vacate them.
Advocate Suhas Oak, who appeared for the residents of those buildings, urged the court to take a “humanitarian view”, and stop the TMC from demolishing the buildings at least till the end of the monsoon season.
