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Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BMC allows temp shed at site of razed Jain temple
Mumbai: A month after several thousand people from the Jain community took to the streets to protest the demolition of an unauthorized Jain temple in Vile Parle , the BMC has granted permission to construct a temporary shed at the site. The approval, given on Friday, states that an application was received from Shah Doshi & Company on May 16, referring to a high court order of May 14 which mentioned that they had the liberty to make an application before the BMC for permission to construct a monsoon shed. The permission granted on May 16 is valid until Oct 31, 2025, and was granted upon payment of Rs 17,877, according to a civic letter, a copy of which is with TOI. Politicians across party lines had protested the demolition of the unauthorised temple. Trustees of the temple said that despite the demolition in April, community members continued to gather at the site for prayers. With the onset of the monsoon next month, trustees said they requested a shelter to accommodate worshippers. Anil Shah of the Jain temple trust said, "This is a victory for our faith. There was no proper place for the worshippers to stand and pray as it was entirely open following the civic action. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo This will allow us to have a proper monsoon shed." Meanwhile, the guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who had joined the Jain community members in their protest march last month, said, "This is not merely a matter of religious sentiment, but a mark of the victory of public faith. We stood firmly with the Jain community, respecting their beliefs. The latest decision reinforces their faith and provides rightful support." Following the Jain community's outcry over the temple demolition , the BMC transferred its K/East ward officer Navnath Ghadge on the day of the community's protest, handing additional charge to H/East ward officer Swapnaja Kshirsagar. However, earlier this month, Kshirsagar was moved to G/South ward, and civic officer Nitin Shukla was brought in to take over. Shukla, who was earlier shifted out of F/North ward after objections from local BJP MLA Tamil Selvan, now holds additional charge of K/East ward along with full charge of the BMC's B ward.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
BMC pulls up hotel next to razed Jain temple for illegal construction
Mumbai: Barely a week after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) razed a Jain temple in the Neminath Co-operative Housing Society premises in Vile Parle East, the civic body on Wednesday issued a notice for unauthorised construction to Ramkrishna hotel, which owns a majority of the flats in the building. The notice was issued under section 53(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1996 after civic officials compared the original building plan with the existing structure to ascertain alterations, sources in the civic body told Hindustan Times. 'We compared the changes with the approved plan of the building, which is with the BMC's development plan (DP) department, and issued the notice accordingly,' a BMC official told Hindustan Times on condition of anonymity. The hotel owners have been asked to respond to the notice within 30 days, with documents showing the alterations are legal, failing which they will have to be demolished, he official mentioned. Trustees of the now demolished Jain temple welcomed the move, saying they had been complaining about the hotel's unauthorised expansion for many years. The hotel owns several apartments in Neminath co-operative housing society which have been converted into guest rooms that are rented out commercially, they alleged. 'Besides, the hotel owners have constructed a makeshift brick and mortar structure right next the temple where its staff is housed,' said Anil Shah, a member of the Shree 1008 Digambar Jain Mandir Trust which managed the demolished temple. 'We have been complaining against the illegal constructions since 2006 but no action had been taken till now,' said Shah. Similar notices for unauthorised construction had been issued earlier to the Jain temple, said trustees. On April 7, the city civil court had rejected the temple trust's plea against demolition but granted interim protection for seven days to allow the trust to appeal against the decision. While the interim protection expired on April 15, the temple was demolished the next day before the trustees got a stay order on the demolition from the Bombay high court. The BMC's punitive action prompted thousands of Jains to hit the streets on April 19 for a massive silent rally. Protestors including trustees of the temple claimed that it was razed at the behest of the owners of Ramkrishna hotel, which wanted to expand its business to other parts of the housing society. Three days later, on April 22, the state minority commission took cognisance of the matter and conducted a survey of the site. The commission rapped the BMC for acting in haste and using excessive force to raze the temple. It also directed the civic body to initiate action against all unauthorised structures in the premises. 'We conducted a survey of the premises following the commission's order to identify all the unauthorised structures,' said an official. 'We have issued a notice to the owners of Ramkrishna hotel based on the findings and more such notices will be issued as and when discrepancies are highlighted during inspection.'
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Civic officials inspect hotel near demolished Jain temple in Vile Parle
Mumbai: Civic officials have begun inspecting Hotel Ram Krishna, located adjacent to the demolished Jain temple in Vile Parle, following allegations that the hotel sought to expand its premises by influencing civic action that took place on April 16, when the temple was partially razed by the civic body. "Inspection began on April 22 itself and continued on April 23. The civic staff will complete its inspection and suggest if there are any violations," a civic official said. The inspection of the hotel follows a visit by the State Minorities Commission to the site of the now-demolished temple on Tuesday, April 22. BMC officials said the commission held a hearing in the matter, during which they were directed to examine the hotel for any unauthorised constructions or alterations. "When the commission members visited the site, we showed them the plans of the hotel and sought an inspection," said Anil Shah of the temple Shree 1008 Parshwanath Digambar Jain Mandir trust. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Encuentra apartamentos disponibles cerca de ti ahora Apartamentos en alquiler | Anuncios de búsqueda Más información Undo BMC officials said that the inspection is being carried out in compliance with that directive. A civic notice will be issued if any violations are found. Hotel authorities believe they are being unfairly targeted in the matter. On Wednesday, the hotel manager was summoned to the local police station over complaints of uncleanliness around the premises and was allowed to go after a few hours, said a hotel staff member. "Even if there are hygiene issues, it is the BMC's jurisdiction to act—not the police," said a staff member. Civic sources said that on April 11, when legal remarks were sought on whether the office of the Building and Factory Department should proceed with the scheduled demolition action on April 16 or not, the assistant law officer K-East Ward mentioned that the department should proceed with the scheduled demolition action on April 16, 2025, as per the provisions of the law, unless the noticee produces any stay order. BJP MLAs, including cabinet minister M P Lodha, met BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on April 22, demanding restoration permission of the temple. Civic authorities have said that no permission can be granted until the matter comes up in court for hearing, which is now scheduled for April 30. On Wednesday, the Municipal Engineers Association and the Municipal Workers Union held a protest at the K-East Ward office condemning the BMC's decision to transfer ward officer Navnath Ghadge. The transfer came days after the April 16 demolition of the Jain temple. Union leaders warned that if such transfers continue, officials would act on religious structures only with explicit sanction from the municipal commissioner. Executive president Ramesh Bhutekar Deshmukh said, "If the ward officer was transferred without any investigation in the matter, this is not justified. The BMC administration must not succumb to any kind of political pressure, at least when the official has acted in the right manner and after the court order. If the ward officer had not acted, the court would have reprimanded them in the case." he said.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Vile Parle Jain temple trust cites BMC law dept's 2013 note against demolition
Mumbai: Citing an Aug 2013 legal opinion from the BMC's law department, the Jain temple trust at Vile Parle argued the structure was authenticated and existed prior to 1961- 62, as per the City Survey Plan. "Therefore, the structure, verified as pre-1961–62, cannot be demolished. The liberty granted by the Hon'ble Court to the MCGM is limited to adjudicating the notice under Section 53(4) of the MR&TP Act for the purpose of regularisation," stated the 2013 BMC document. Anil Shah of Shree 1008 Parshwanath Digambar Jain Mandir's trust said the BMC cannot differ in its opinion then and now. "The BMC's own note from 2013 says the structure cannot be demolished, yet it acts against this. We stand by our decision that we will continue our worship in this very same place and since Sunday have also begun the same. We want the structure to be constructed back again," said Shah. BMC officials, though, maintained the structure was unauthorised and the matter was challenged in court several times. An official said the demolition was scheduled for April 16, and this was recorded in the court roznama dated April 15. "While the directive to maintain a status quo in the case came at 11.45am on April 16, by then a major portion of the demolition was already done," said a civic official. "The structure under reference was required to be demolished as per the condition mentioned in the IOD (intimation of disapproval) letter dated Aug 21, 1974. As per the undertaking submitted by the owner of Shah Doshi & Company to the municipal commissioner on Jan 22, 1974. Since the structure under reference was not demolished, the notice under Section 53(1) of MRTP Act was first issued on Feb 4, 2005, by the building proposal department. However, whom the notice was served to, did not demolish the structure but increased the floor carpet area and started using it for temple and devotee accommodation. The matter has been in court since," said a civic official.
