Abstain from demolition during Diwali, Bombay HC tells local bodies

The Bombay High Court has instructed all planning and local authorities to refrain from carrying out any demolitions during the Diwali period and until November 20-21.  A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Kamal Khata passed the order on Wednesday while hearing a petition filed by a retired Indian Navy officer challenging a notice issued to him for the demolition of his farmhouse in Pune.

As a general directive, we would request all Planning and Local Authorities to stay their hands on demolitions during the Diwali period and certainly until 20th/21st November 2023. There are intervening public holidays between 12th November 2023 (Diwali) and 15th November 2023 (Bhaubeej), the bench directed.

Commander Baldevsingh Bhagwansingh Bhatti (retired) contested a notice dated October 31, issued by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), which mandated the demolition of his farmhouse structure in Kurvande village, Mawal.

Senior advocate Anil Singh, appearing for Bhatti, told the court the structure has been in existence since 1996 and whether or not it had sufficient permission needs to be examined.