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Maharashtra

Bombay HC Slams BMC Over Powai Road Encroachments, Warns City Being ‘Surrendered’ To Illegal Structures

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Mumbai, Feb 12: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over alleged inaction against encroachments on a key Powai road, remarking that the civic body appeared to be “surrendering Mumbai to encroachers” instead of keeping public roads clear.

A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri also slammed the civic body for “lack of will, desire and courage” to take action against the encroachers and asked what would become of Mumbai in the next two decades if illegal encroachments continued unchecked.

“If a stop is not put to this (illegal structures), in the future people would be forced to use only two-wheelers, bicycles or horses on roads which would be taken over by encroachers,” the court observed.

Petition over 90-foot road obstruction

The court was hearing a petition by Beaumont HFSI Pre-primary School in Powai and its principal Kalyani Patnai, which complained that a nearly 90-foot-wide road connecting several schools to the Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) had been encroached upon by hutments, toilets and other structures, severely obstructing pedestrians and motorists.

Senior advocate Naushad Engineer, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that repeated complaints to the BMC had yielded no concrete action. He alleged that the civic body had, in fact, installed toilets and supplied water to encroachers. “It was the BMC which went and installed toilets and is supplying water to these encroachers,” he argued, pointing to photographs on record.

Court questions civic resolve

Visibly displeased, the bench said: “Why don’t you (BMC) tell us that you don’t have the will, desire and courage to remove encroachers. Then we will record that Mumbai is surrendered to encroachers.”

Referring to the photographs, the court added that if the encroachments continued, “people will have to ride a bicycle” on what is meant to be a major road. “Everywhere, roads are left with only one or two lanes and then there are traffic jams. Cars cannot move — a person walks faster than such cars stuck in jams,” it remarked.

BMC advocate Dhruti Kapadia told the court that officials faced resistance and even attacks when attempting demolition drives. She sought two months’ time to clear the encroachments.

Warning of contempt action

The judges, however, criticised what they termed a pattern of appeasement. “When squatters realise that when they squat on a concrete road, BMC will give them a toilet… you are generous towards encroachers,” the bench observed, adding that the civic body was “in quicksand” of its own making. It added: “Isn’t the BMC promoting encroachments like this? This is a grim situation. If you stop giving them water and toilet facilities, they will move. But you have been giving them (facilities) on a platter.”

When informed that a movable toilet could not be removed, the bench reacted sharply: “This is a ‘firta shauchalay’ (moving toilet). It has to be put up on a truck and moved… You are promoting encroachment.”

Calling the situation “grim”, the court warned of strict consequences if timelines were not honoured. “This is the last chance… otherwise we will initiate suo motu contempt,” it said, likening the cycle of removal and reappearance of encroachments to a “Tom and Jerry show.”

The bench directed the deputy municipal commissioner concerned to remain present in court and file an affidavit stating a firm timeline for removal of the encroachments. It also ordered a senior police officer from the Powai area to be present to assist the court regarding protection during demolition.

The judges remarked that people have limited time on this planet and each person’s endeavour must be to keep the environment and the city in such a good condition that the next generation reaps its benefits. “Our next generation should not say we have been callous with our city,” it said.

Emphasising the broader public impact, the judges noted that heavy school traffic and daily commuting had been crippled. “We are more concerned with the hurt caused to people of Mumbai,” the bench said.

Maharashtra

Hateful statements, obscenity in the name of entertainment will not be tolerated, strict action will be taken: Mayor Ritu Tawde

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Mumbai: The hospital administration has formed an inquiry committee in the case of hate speech made by Sejal Pawar, a medical student of KEM Hospital, in the live show of stand-up comedian Preneet More. Hate speech in the name of entertainment will not be tolerated. The hospital administration has been directed to take strict action in this matter, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has clarified.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has reacted strongly to the entire incident and has appealed to artists and content creators to be aware of social responsibility. Two clips of stand-up comedian Preneet More’s show that are going viral on social media are causing great anger among the citizens. In the first clip, a man named Himanshu Jagda narrated an incident of degrading treatment of a woman, while in the second clip, Sejal Pawar, a medical student of KEM Hospital, made extremely hateful, obscene and offensive comments about the bodies of men who had donated their bodies for medical education. In both these cases, comedian Praneet laughed and clapped instead of objecting. Taking notice of the insensitivity in both these clips, the Maharashtra Cyber ​​Police took immediate action and registered a case. Clarifying the municipal corporation’s stand on the matter and fully supporting the legal action, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde explained that the Maharashtra Cyber ​​Department has taken action. Apart from this, the KEM Hospital administration has also appointed a committee to investigate Sejal Pawar. The Mayor clarified that the hospital administration has been directed to take strict action in this matter. Mayor Tawde further said that freedom of expression is a very important part of democracy, but in the name of this freedom, content that insults women, obscenity, hate speech, hateful content or content that sends the wrong message to the society cannot be accepted under any circumstances. Everyone should respect boundaries while discussing sensitive issues related to women, consent and the medical sector in a public forum. Mumbai is a city of culture, art and freedom of thought. However, it is the collective responsibility of all to ensure that no one’s dignity is violated in the name of entertainment. Since social media has a great influence on the youth, the impact of such content on society should be seriously considered. Everyone should be sensitive to this. All artists, digital content creators and social media influencers should preserve their creative talents while maintaining a sense of social interest, sensitivity and morality. Citizens should also behave responsibly on social media and strongly oppose things that promote hatred, obscenity and anti-women mentality, Ritu Tawde has also appealed on this occasion.

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Maharashtra

MLA Abu Asim Azmi demands Interior Minister to allow Muharram sermons and gatherings until 9pm

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Mumbai: In view of the importance of the holy days of Muharram, the time of public religious speeches, sermons and gatherings held during this period should be extended from 10 am to 12 pm, MLA Abu Asim Azmi has sent a memorandum to the state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, making this strong demand.

MLA Azmi has said in his letter that public speeches, sermons and gatherings are organized in different areas at night during Muharram, in which a large number of devotees participate. Currently, Maghrib prayers are offered at around 7 pm, after which a lot of time is spent until the Isha prayers are completed. The police administration is currently allowing only up to 10 pm, due to which very little time is required for the actual program after the prayers. Due to this shortage of time, there is anxiety among Muslims and they are not able to fully benefit from these religious speeches.

In view of this situation, with full respect for law and order, this time should be extended till 12 midnight for the scheduled dates of Muharram. MLA Abu Asim Azmi has demanded that the Home Minister himself intervene in the matter and immediately issue positive orders to the police administration. Copies of this memorandum have also been sent to the Chief Minister and Mumbai Police Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Devin Bharti for necessary action.

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Maharashtra

Mira Road C-Queen Palace Orchestra Bar raided, 12 women recovered, 9 arrested

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A team led by DCP Rahul Chavan of Mira Road Police Commissionerate, Circle 1, raided the Sea Queen Palace Orchestra Bar in front of Daraz Dhaba on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway under the limits of Kashigaon Police Station on Mira Road. During the raid, the police rescued 12 women. A cashier and 8 waiters were arrested, including the driver, owner and manager of the bar who are absconding. During the raid, Rs 50,000 in cash was seized. Along with this, illegal stocks of whiskey and beer were seized. Further investigation is underway in the case. It is said that an illegal dance and entertainment party was going on in the bar. During this, the police raided and arrested the accused and also released 12 dancers.

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