Explain delay in demolishing illegal shrines: HC

Mumbai: Coming down heavily on the state government, the Bombay high court on Thursday directed the government to explain the inordinate delay in demolishing illegal shrines in the state. The high court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Janhit Manch, seeking action against illegal shrines in the state.

The government, earlier this month, filed a fresh application seeking extension of the December 2017 deadline. The high court, however, got irked and said it was not inclined to grant an extension.

“Explain to us the reasons behind the gross delay in demolishing all illegal shrines within the prescribed time limit. We want the government to file an affidavit on this,” division bench of Justices A. S. Oka and M. S. Sonak said.

The court said that if it were not satisfied with the government's reasons, then it would initiate contempt action against the concerned officers.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks. As per statistics, out of the 871 illegal structures erected after September 2009, only 225 have been demolished. In other parts of state, except corporation limits, there are 847 illegal religious shrines and only 159 have been demolished. The court had earlier directed the government to submit a time-bound schedule for demolition of such shrines. In response, the state government had issued a government resolution (GR) ) in November 2015 stating that it had set up committees to find out which shrines needed to be regularised and which had to be demolished.