Trust offers to repair press in Bhavan

The People’s Improvement Trust on Thursday filed an affidavit in Bombay high court, offering to repair the structure of the printing press at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar. The high court, meanwhile, refused to grant its permission to install a temporary roof at the Bhavan’s printing press to protect its printing machines from rainwater. The court, however, allowed the applicant to cover machinery with tarpaulin.

The trust on Thursday filed an affidavit before Justice S.J. Kathawala, which said that architect Shashi Prabhu, who had been appointed by the high court to ascertain losses of Ambedkar Bhavan, in his report, stated that the structure — which had a printing press — can be repaired and the trust is ready to do the needful and bear the costs. The repairs could be done under supervision of the high court appointed architect.

The trust further said that it would only repair the structure of printing press because as far as other structures were concerned, BMC had declared them dilapidated and issued a notice under section 354 with directions for their demolition — the court is yet to decide the issue.

The lawyer representing Prakash alias Balasaheb Ambedkar, apart from filing a reply on the architect’s report, also requested the court to allow them to put up a temporary roof on the printing press to protect printing machines from rain.

The judge, however, said that pending hearing, the court would not allow this. The other option given by the court was to put tarpaulin or plastic on machines to protect them.

The judge also disagreed with the claim that machines were getting rusty after lying without a roof. The judge said that a photograph produced before the court showed the machines to be old and rusty even before the structure was demolished. In the meantime, Vitthal Asaware filed an intervention application before the court, claiming to be in possession of the property at Ambedkar Bhavan. He filed a rejoinder in court with a request to issue chamber summons, so that he could also be heard as a party in this matter. Following this, the judge issued chambers summons and posted the matter for hearing on August 30.

Meanwhile, social worker Rajendra Pawar filed an application seeking to intervene in the matter. He alleged that the dispute between parties was artificial and they are allegedly fighting for money. In his application, he also requested the court to hear him on this issue.

The HC was hearing an application filed by the People’s Improvement Trust, which runs Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar, against the proposed rebuilding of the demolished structure through voluntary contribution. The application was filed as Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s grandson, Prakash, called for followers of the late Dalit leader to assemble at the premises on July 30 and rebuild and restore the structure.

According to the trust, it had on June 1 received a notice from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), directing it to demolish the three structures in the premises as they were in a dilapidated and dangerous condition.

Following the notice, the trust started demolition work on June 25. However, the same day, supporters of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, mobilised by his grandson Prakash Ambedkar, entered the premises and protested against demolition.