Sion-Koliwada ruckus: Bombay HC stays demolition drive in Mumbai till June 7

Mumbai city news: The court ordered the civic body to refrain from any action against the refugee camp and also from disconnecting the electricity and water supply to these housing societies, which it had tried to do on Thursday, resulting in a clash between residents and the police

A vacation bench of the Bombay high court restrained Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from demolishing any part of the refugee camp at Sion-Koliwada till June 7.

The residents clash with the police on Thursday. (HT photo)

After residents clashed with the police during a demolition drive by the civic body on Thursday, shops in the area remained shut on Friday.

The court ordered the civic body to refrain from any action against the camp and also from disconnecting the electricity and water supply to these housing societies, which it had tried to do on Thursday, resulting in a clash between residents and the police.

The court’s order however, is subject to an undertaking from the petitioners that they will “continue to occupy their premises at their own risk”.

The court said that the petitioners must also write in the undertaking that they will be responsible for any loss of life and property and statutory authorities, including the BMC, will not be held responsible in any way.

Five policemen sustained minor injuries in the face-off while several others were injured at Sion-Koliwada on Thursday.

“Thousands live in the 1,200 flats and they are the rightful owners,” said Sandeep Singh Dham, a resident. “People are fed up and want a rehabilitation policy on the lines of BDD chawl, where residents were given 500 sqft houses in place of their 180sqft tenements.”

With the monsoon around the corner, the BMC will have a tough time vacating these buildings.