31 July,2021 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania
The No Kissing Zone sign outside Satyam Shivam Sundaram society in Borivli. Pic/Satej Shinde
In a city, one gets to see no parking, no spitting, no smoking or no drinking zones. Now, probably for the first time, the city has got a âNo Kissing Zone' outside Borivli's Satyam Shivam Sundaram society. The zone has been marked by society residents as a message to couples getting intimate. However, couples visiting the spot told mid-day that kissing a partner in a public place is not a crime and that they are only spending quality time with each other.
Residents of the Satyam Shivam Sundaram society near Joggers Park in Chikuwadi told midday that couples started arriving in the area since the COVID-19-related lockdown began. Pairs were seen on bikes and in cars from 5 pm till late evening. After the sign was put up, only a few people are visiting and more are coming to take selfies, residents claim.
The society's chairman, advocate Vinay Ansurkar, 55, said, "According to the Supreme Court, kissing is not an offence but continued kissing is vulgarity. We are not against couples, we are against vulgarity that couples indulge in outside our houses. There are kids and senior citizens in our society. After the lockdown was imposed, couples thronged to this road and to the Joggers Park, as nobody comes to stop them. We often called the police but they didn't come. We also approached the local corporator but did not get a solution."
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"Two months ago, we painted âNo Kissing Zone' on the road. Couples are not allowed to kiss on the spot. We have often personally requested couples not to indulge in vulgarity," said Ansurkar.
Karan and Ruchi Parekh said they were the first to find a couple on a bike getting intimate in their area. "We took a video of the couple romancing and sent it to the local corporator Bina Doshi. She asked us to call the police. The romancing happened daily outside our window and we were fed up. We spoke to the society chairman and secretary and we decided to paint the sign on the road. Now it is a selfie point," the couple said.
A couple told mid-day on condition of anonymity, "Earlier, we used to meet here during the lockdown as roads were empty and we felt safe in the garden area. But now we don't sit here. This action goes against couples. We don't disturb anyone. Sometimes we surreptitiously kiss each other. There is no place left for couples in Mumbai. We should get some space."
Another couple said, "Kissing is not an offence or vulgar. We are sharing our emotions with our partner. The society should remove the painted sign as we are kissing on the road which is public property, not a private one. Roads are for everyone."
Ansurkar added, "We did not take permission to paint the âNo Kissing Zone' sign. We respect couples and understand their emotions but they should control themselves while on roads and in public places. This is pure vulgarity and not romance."
Mumbai police's spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner of Police S Chaitanya said, "If any society is facing trouble, they can call 100 and complain to us. We can take action as per the law after verifying all facts."
