New Delhi (thestates.news)| The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice on a contempt petition filed against the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, alleging the illegal demolition of a Gurudwara in violation of the Court’s stay order on demolitions issued in the “bulldozer matter.” A bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K.V. Viswanathan directed that status quo be maintained until the next hearing.
Advocate Rukhmini Bobde, representing the petitioners, informed the Court that the Gurudwara had been demolished and the holy book ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ removed. She contended that contemporaneous records would corroborate the Gurudwara’s existence at the site.
Justice Viswanathan noted the authorities’ claim that the site was designated for solid waste management.
However, Bobde countered that it was intended for employee housing for the solid waste management department. She also pointed out that the department referred to the structure as a “dargah” in its communication with the assistant municipal commissioner.
When questioned whether any notice was issued prior to the demolition, Bobde responded in the negative, stating that the action was carried out under Section 314 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, which allows the demolition of structures on streets or water bodies without notice.
She added that construction beams had already been placed at the site and prayed for an order to maintain the status quo.
The alleged violation pertains to a Supreme Court order dated September 17, which mandated that no demolitions take place without prior permission from the Court. However, the order excluded encroachments on public roads, footpaths, railway lines, or waterbodies from its purview.
Two other similar contempt petitions have been filed, one by residents of Assam and the other challenging the demolition of the Pir Haji Mangroli Shah Dargah in Gujarat.
The petition in the current matter has been filed through Advocate-on-Record Soumya Priyadarshinee.(UNI)
SC issues notice on contempt petition over Gurudwara demolition in Mumbai
