Bombay high court restrains Mumbai civic body from demolishing Fashion Street stalls

MUMBAI CITY NEWS: The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by several stall owners from Fashion Street, asking it to intervene on a notice issued to them by the corporation on May 20, this year.

Bombay high court, in an interim order, has restrained the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from demolishing or from taking any coercive action against stalls along Fashion Street lane in South Mumbai.

The court also issued a notice to the BMC seeking a reply. (HT)

The court also issued a notice to the BMC seeking a reply.

It was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by several stall owners from Fashion Street, asking it to intervene on a notice issued to them by the corporation on May 20, this year.

In the notice, the corporation said that an inspection had revealed that over 50 stall owners at Fashion Street were violating the terms of the licences issued to them.

So, BMC had directed the stall owners to either shut shop voluntarily, or it would demolish them.

The corporation’s inspection report said that the stall owners were selling items that they were not permitted to, and using more space than permitted.

The stall owners, however, said that they were not violating any terms and the BMC notice had affected their Rights to Life and Livelihood. So they needed to be protected from the demolition drive, if the civic body chose to carry it out.

The bench has also directed the petitioners to file an affidavit in court with their side of the arguments.

It is likely to take up the matter for further hearing on June 8, this year.