Mumbai, Aug 10 (UNI) The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to grant an extension on its blanket order staying demolition of illegal structures and eviction of tenants from there till August 30.
A full bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and justices Amjad Sayed, S S Shinde and Prasanna Varale had taken up a suo motu PIL last year and stayed demolitions and evictions after nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19 brought everything to a standstill including the functioning of courts.
The pandemic crisis has reduced and with the easing of lockdown and lifting of restrictions, establishments have started functioning following Covid-appropriate behaviour. Coupled with the fact that the courts have started functioning just like in the pre-Covid days, protective orders may not be required to be continued anymore, said the chief justice.
However, as the public at large believes that the protective orders exist, a breather has been given till the end of the month.
The court was hearing an application filed by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), seeking permission for eviction and demolition of illegal structures at Kamgar Putla Vasahat and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Mumbai and Juna Tofkhana and Shivaji Nagar in Pune for construction of Metro Rail stations there.
Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhkoni said the construction of Metro Rail was halted due to the order staying eviction and demolition.
He said MMRC had conducted a survey and determined the eligible and ineligible slum dwellers for rehabilitation. “We will relocate the eligible dwellers and have entered into an agreement with them. However, we cannot go ahead with the construction due to the stay order,” said Kumbhkoni.
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