MUMBAI: In a significant order, the Bombay high court on Thursday suggested to the Mumbai civic body and all other municipalities in the state to consider issuing general directives not to demolish, evict or hold auctions of attached properties for a specifed period in view of the
coronavirus pandemic, the advisory and
curtailed court hours
.
A bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and Riyaz Chagla passed the order while hearing a plea by A1-Fateh cooperative housing society claiming urgency in view of impending demolition action.
The HC, granting the society some relief, said, “Without going into the merits of the matter, the demolition of the structure is stayed up to March 31, 2020.”
But added, “In view of the current situation created by the global pandemic – corona virus (COVID-19), the courts are taking up only urgent matters between 12 noon to 2pm.”
The courts are also trying to ensure that even during these two hours, the court rooms should not be overcrowded and only individuals whose presence is absolutely necessary in their respective matters, should be allowed to be present in the court rooms, said the bench in its order.
Most of the urgent matters pertain to seeking restraint orders against the municipal corporations from carrying out demolition,
eviction
and holding auctions.
“To prevent individuals, firms or companies who are aggrieved” of any such contemplated action “and are left with no option but to rush to courts, we suggest to the commissioner of the municipal corporation of Greater Mumbai as well as all municipal commissioners of all the municipal corporations in Maharashtra to consider issuing a general directive not to demolish, evict and/or hold auctions of attached properties for a specifed period with a caveat that if the Corporations in some extra ordinary cases, for compelling reasons are required to do so, they shall be at liberty to move the appropriate courts and obtain orders.”
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Swati Deshpande is Senior editor at The Times of India, Mumbai, w...
Read MoreSwati Deshpande is Senior editor at The Times of India, Mumbai, where she has been covering courts for over a decade. She is passionate about law and works towards enlightening people about their statutory, legal and fundamental rights. She makes it her job to decipher for the public the truth, be it in an intricate civil dispute or in a gruesome criminal case.
Read Less