HC DIRECTS RAZING OF 4-STOREY BUILDING

An illegal construction cannot be permitted to continue, the Bombay High Court said and directed the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to demolish a four-storey building in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, that was constructed without any permission.

- URVI MAHAJANI

Interestingly, NMMC had demolished the building on four earlier occasions in 2020. The court termed it "a clear cut case of trespass" and observed that there is a distinction between illegality and irregularity.

The high court, which asked the 23 occupants, who were represented by advocate RD Soni, to vacate the premises within six weeks, directed the corporation to demolish the structure within two weeks thereafter. No civil court should entertain any plea from any of the parties seeking stay on the demolition, it said.

"This (Ghansoli building) is by no means the first case of this kind," the high court said, drawing similarities with the Supreme Court directing demolition of two fully constructed towers by Supertech Limited in Delhi. The problem is not "localised" and every municipal corporation faces this, it said, adding that the only difference is the "matter of degree".