Mumbai: THE Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to demolish the 13 illegal shrines and unauthorised religious structures that are yet to be demolished by September 30.

While disposing off a public interest litigation filed by non-governmental organisation Janhit Manch, a division bench of Justices R M Lodha and S A Bobde also directed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, the Mumbai Port Trust and other authorities concerned to demolish illegal shrines in their jurisdiction and ask for BMC’s assistance if needed.

When petitioner Bhagvanji Raiyani pointed out that illegal shrines and unauthorised religious structures resurface in no time following demolition, the court asked the BMC if there was any mechanism to prevent this.

To this, the BMC counsel K K Singhvi said that assistant engineers would keep watch on the unauthorised constructions in their wards. The court then directed the assistant engineer (Maintenance) of every ward to keep a check on such constructions and demolish any that come up.

No respite
The Ayyappa Shiv Sabha had filed an application saying the court exclude the Ayyappa temple at Shivaji Nagar, Govandi, from demolition or grant a two-month stay and had argued that when the temple was built in 1992, there was no road there.

But the court on Thursday observed that devotees should not obstruct the road for religious purposes and directed the Sabha to demolish the structure by September 29, failing which, the BMC would do so the next day.

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