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Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
BMC grants permission for temporary shed at Vile Parle Jain temple site
A month after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) razed portions of the Digambar Jain temple at Mumbai's Vile Parle, sparking protests from members of the Jain community, the civic body on Friday granted permission to erect a temporary shed at the temple site. The approval came two days after the Bombay High Court asked the trust, which runs Digambar Jain temple in Vile Parle, to approach the BMC authorities with an application, seeking to put a temporary shed over the structure due to ensuing monsoon. Approving the trust's request, the K/East ward office said that the approval is valid until October 31 and that the construction can be done upon payment of a fee to the tune of Rs. 17,877. The total area of the shed spans 232 square metres. On April 16, the BMC ward office had razed portions of the Digambar Jain temple, alleging that portions of the structure were illegal. The BMC's action came a day after the city civil court rejected the temple trust's plea for extension of interim protection against demolition action. The incident led to protests by the Jain community. Following this, politicians across party lines heavily criticised the BMC, nudging the civic administration to issue a transfer order of assistant municipal commissioner Navnath Ghadhe, who headed the K/East ward office. Meanwhile, the state minority commission also pulled up the BMC for demolishing large portions of the temple. Amid the dispute, the Shree 1008 Digambar Jain Mandir Trust sought an interim relief to put up a temporary shed over the structure, citing the onset of monsoon. While hearing the interim application, a vacation bench of the high court on Wednesday noted that they can file an appropriate application with the civic body. Welcoming the BMC's approval, state cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Saturday said, 'This is not merely a matter of religious sentiment, but a mark of the victory of public faith.'
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Bombay HC asks Vile Parle Jain temple Trust to approach BMC authorities for ‘temporary shed'
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the Trust which runs Digambar Jain temple in Vile Parle to approach the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities with an application seeking to put a temporary shed over the structure due to ensuing monsoon. The BMC had on April 16 morning demolished most of the temple structure, which led to outrage and protests among members of the Jain community. The BMC on the same day had told the HC that except for two walls measuring 15 feet and 7 feet in length and 10 feet in height, the remaining suit structure had been razed. The HC had recorded the BMC's statement and had ordered that till further orders 'status quo in respect of the suit structure as of now shall be maintained.' On Wednesday, a vacation bench of HC of Justice Arif S Doctor was hearing an interim application by Shree 1008 Digambar Jain Mandir Trust. The Trust sought an interim relief to put a temporary shed over the structure in question citing upcoming monsoon. However, the lawyer representing respondent housing society submitted that the said relief cannot be granted as the status quo order was in place and after the idols were handed over as recorded in Police Panchnama, the Trust brought them back to the structure, which was contrary to the HC order. The Trust could have approached the regular court which on April 16 passed the status quo order, the lawyer argued. The bench directed the applicant Trust to approach the BMC authority concerned and asked the respondent to raise their grievances against the same before the said authority. 'In my view, if the applicant is desirous of carrying out any construction on the said plot in question, let an appropriate application be filed before the municipal authorities, who shall consider the same,' the HC noted. Earlier, on April 7, the city civil court had rejected the Trust's plea against demolition action but had granted interim protection for seven days for it to approach the HC. On April 15, the city civil court rejected Trust's application seeking to extend the interim protection from demolition. It had said that due to court holidays between April 10 and 14, it could not file an appeal in HC. On April 16 morning, the BMC initiated demolition action. The Trust sought urgent hearing before a bench of Justice Gauri V Godse, which ordered stopping of action, but was informed that most of the structure had already been demolished. The HC had then ordered status quo at the said structure, which was further extended till June 27.
Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Indian Express
BMC slaps notice on hotel adjoining Digambar Jain Temple citing ‘unauthorised construction'
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday issued notices to the private hotel adjoining the Digambar Jain Temple at Vile Parle, parts of which were demolished last week. The civic body's move came a day after BMC authorities carried out an inspection of the hotel premises. Civic officials said the notices were served under Section 53 (1) of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act (MRTP), 1966, for unauthorised construction. Earlier, a notice under similar sections were issued to the temple trust, before the civic authorities carried out demolition of the building. According to the BMC's Act, the recipients of the notices are given a 30-day timeline for replying to the notice. 'The hotel dates back to 1977 and with time, some changes have been implemented in the structure. We have compared these changes with the approved plan, that is available with the BMC's Development Planning (DP) department, and sent them notices. We have given them a 30-day deadline to reply to us,' an official said. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the state minority commission also accepted submission from the BMC about the actions that they had taken up. 'Following the commission's directions, we have lodged a police complaint against civic officials. We maintain our stand that the temple was damaged in an illegal manner. In 2013, the BMC's internal law department had passed a resolution stating that the structure couldn't be demolished,' Atul Shah, trustee of the temple, told the Indian Express. On the morning of April 16, the BMC's K/East (KE) ward office razed portions of the Digambar Jain temple in Mumbai 's western suburbs, alleging that portions of the structure were illegal. The BMC action came a day after the city civil court rejected the temple trust's plea for extension of interim protection against demolition action. The trustees of the temple, along with the members of the Jain community, alleged that the civic body's move was influenced by the private hotel owner's plan of expanding their premises—an allegation that has been refuted by the hotel owners. When contacted by The Indian Express, the hotel management declined to comment. The incident resulted in massive furore among members of the Jain community, who hit the streets as a sign of protest. Politicians across party lines too came down heavily on the BMC, prompting the civic administration to issue a transfer order for Assistant Municipal Commissioner Navnath Ghadhe, who headed the KE office. Civic and court records accessed and evaluated by The Indian Express show that the first notice for demolishing the structure was issued to the temple trust owners in 2005, and in the past two decades, nine attempts were made to demolish the structure. The action taken on April 16 was the first time in 20 years that the BMC was able to initiate a full-fledged demolition drive at the site.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State Minority Commission pulls up BMC for Jain temple demolition
MUMBAI: The State Minority Commission on Tuesday pulled up BMC officials for the hasty demolition of the 90-year-old Digambar Jain temple in Neminath Co-operative Housing Society, Vile Parle East, on April 16. The demolition happened within hours after the stay order from the city civil court ended. 'The BMC action was excessive. They should have given more time to vacate the premises after the stay order ended,' said Chetan Dedhia, vice-chairman of the Commission, who surveyed the site on Tuesday evening. The BMC action had led hundreds of members of the Jain community to undertake a silent protest march on the city's streets on April 19. As per the survey, the BMC team reached the spot at 10 am and started the demolition at 10.15am, although the details will be confirmed after watching the CCTV footage. 'The structure was situated inside a compound; it was not in any public space. There was no issue of the temple coming in the way of any development project. Then why did the BMC act so hastily?' questioned Pyare Khan, chairman of the Commission. On April 7, the city civil court had rejected the temple trust's plea against demolition. However, it granted interim protection from demolition for seven days for the Trust to file an appeal in HC, which expired on April 15, a day prior to the incident. Anil Shah, a trustee of the temple, demanded that strict action be taken against all the officials involved in the demolition. According to survey, the request for police protection was made by the BMC on April 4 when the stay order was in place. 'We are investigating if any more officials were involved and we will demand action against them,' Khan said. As per BMC records, the 2,200-sq-ft premises of the temple are categorised as a recreational ground. 'There are several discrepancies in the society, which is why it doesn't have a proper occupancy certificate,' said Swapnaja Kshirsagar, additional commissioner K East ward. 'We will issue notices to demolish all the illegal structures within the society in the next two days.' While devotees and Rashtrasant Muni Nilesh Chandra, president of the Mahaveer Mission Trust who led Saturday's protest, demanded that the temple be reconstructed, the Commission said, 'The decision on the reconstruction can be taken only by the Bombay high court. Till then, devotees can continue worshiping at the spot, but the land will continue to remain disputed.'
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Criminal activity': Minority panel slams BMC for razing portions of Jain temple
The Maharashtra State Minority Commission on Tuesday pulled up the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for demolishing portions of the Digambar Jain Temple at Vile Parle in Mumbai's western suburbs, saying it was nothing less than a 'criminal activity'. The BMC had demolished portions of the 90-year-old structure, being managed by the Shree 1008 Digambar Jain Mandir trust, on April 16, sparking a furore among the members of the Jain community in the state who hit the streets in protest. The city civil court had on April 7 rejected the temple trust's plea against any demolition action. It had however granted interim protection from demolition for seven days for the trust to file an appeal in Bombay High Court, that expired on April 15 – a day prior to the incident. Also Read | The demolition of Mumbai's Digambar Jain temple: what happened, how, and why Minority commission chairperson Pyare Ziya Khan said that the BMC's move of taking action came out of anticipation. 'The BMC had signed its order for demolishing the structure on April 15 night itself, while ideally they should have done it the next day, which means that they (BMC) were waiting for the relief period to get over,' Khan told The Indian Express. 'The structure was situated inside a compound and it was not on any public space. As a result, there was no argument that the temple was coming in the way of any development project. We have asked the BMC to file their reply and have also asked our members to carry out an inspection. Our verdict will be delivered in the next hearing,' he added. Hearing the complaints that were filed against the civic authorities, the minority commission chaired by Khan said that the demolition drive was nothing less than a 'criminal activity' and asked the BMC to file a reply stating why a criminal offence should not be registered against the officials. The chairperson also ordered an immediate inspection of the site. The commission also took cognisance of the BMC's decision to demolish the structure in the early morning and sought a written statement about how many illegal structures have been demolished at such a time till now. The commission also instructed the police to assist the temple trustees in filing a complaint against the stolen items from the temple. Meanwhile, following the hearing, civic officials held a meeting on the next step of this issue. During the meeting, state minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Parag Alavani were also present. Alavani is also the legislator under whose jurisdiction the location of the temple falls. Lodha on Tuesday also held a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on this issue. While the BMC officials who were present refrained from making any comment on record, an official said, 'The BMC has submitted its statement to the commission and will act and co-operate accordingly as per the commission's demands.' Politicians across party lines had criticised the civic body for the demolition. Days after the incident, the BMC had transferred assistant municipal commissioner Navnath Ghadge from the K/East ward. Areas like Andheri East and Vile Parle fell under Ghadge's jurisdiction.
