HC allows Bigg Boss shoot to continue

The occupants of the Bigg Boss house will not be rendered homeless, at least for now.

The occupants of the Bigg Boss house will not be rendered homeless, at least for now.

HT Image

The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Lonavla Municipal Council (LMC) to maintain status quo and directed it to file a reply to Viacom 18 Media Private Limited’s petition challenging the eviction notice.

The municipal council had ordered that the shooting of the reality show be suspended immediately, saying the channel had violated certain terms and conditions. On Thursday, the LMC served notice on Endemol India, saying that the property being used for the shoot was licensed for manufacturing purposes.

Viacom 18 Media Private Limited moved high court terming the notice as illegal. The petition said “the notice has been issued with malafide intention and on account of extraneous considerations”.

Senior counsel Iqbal Chagla, advocate Ameet Naik argued that the LMC had issued the notice without having any jurisdiction. Endemol India has been made as respondent in the petition, which was represented by Vineet Naik.

The petition also refuted the claim that the structure constructed was unauthorised.

The show is being filmed at an industrial premises situated at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Marg in Lonavla and measures approximately 5,76,000 square metre.

Viacom’s petition states that under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, the authority has to give sufficient notice to remove an alleged unauthorised structure. The owner could even make application for regularisation of the structure. Till that application is decided, the existing structure cannot be disturbed, it states.

Viacom 18 has sought that the notice be quashed as they have spent crores on construction of the set, putting up infrastructure, engaging artists and advertising for the show.

The LMC counsel told the court that she did not have any instructions.

A division bench of justices VC Daga and Rajendra Sawant has asked the council to file reply in one week and directed to maintain status quo till then.