The Supreme Court on Thursday stuck to its stand that “believers of religion will never support encroachment” and rejected a plea by shopkeepers to modify its order directing the removal of encroachments within the 500 square metre area of the 700-year old historic Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.
‘No debate’
A Vacation Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Navin Sinha said the court was categorical in its order for the removal of the encroachments and no further debate was required on the subject. The shopkeepers had pleaded for modification, saying they had been in the neighbourhood of the shrine since 1942 and paying rent to the Haji Ali Trust.
The Trust had volunteered in court to raze the encroachments while protecting the area hosting the shrine.
A Bench led by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar had said the work would be subject to the satisfaction of the joint task force comprising the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the Collector.
Beautification plan
Senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the Trust, had earlier informed the court about his client’s willingness to raze the encroachments. This had prompted the court to restrain the joint task force from removing the encroachments as ordered by the Bombay High Court.
The court had also asked the Trust to place a proposal for the beautification of the area.
On May 9, the court had asked the Trust to remove encroachments in a 500 square metre area in the historic shrine within four weeks, while lauding its efforts in this regard.
