Diwali 2023: Abstain from demolition, Bombay HC tells local bodies and planning authorities

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Diwali 2023: The Bombay High Court has directed all planning and local authorities to abstain from demolition of any structure during "Diwali period" and "until November 20-21".

A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Kamal Khata passed the order on Wednesday while hearing a petition filed by a retired Indian Navy officer challenging a notice issued to him for demolition of his farmhouse in Pune.

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"As a general directive, we would request all Planning and Local Authorities to stay their hands on demolitions during the Diwali period and certainly until 20th/21st November 2023. There are intervening public holidays between 12th November 2023 (Diwali) and 15th November 2023 (Bhaubeej)," the bench directed.

Commander Baldevsingh Bhagwansingh Bhatti (retired) had challenged an October 31 notice issued to him by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) ordering demolition of his farmhouse structure at Kurvande village in Mawal.

Senior advocate Anil Singh, appearing for Bhatti, told the court the structure has been in existence since 1996 and whether or not it had sufficient permission needs to be examined.

The bench noted it does not see any urgency in removing the structure and granted interim injunction on demolition till December 1.

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