Urging the Maharashtra government to seize the “great opportunity” and take the initiative to beautify Haji Ali dargah and its surroundings in Mumbai, the Supreme Court on Monday said it “hoped and expected” the work to be completed by December 31 so that the visitors in the new year can see the famed shrine in all its splendour.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud directed that a meeting be held on September 4 by the Mumbai Collector and all other stakeholders to finalise the proposed beautification plans.
“Why don’t you do the beautification and get the credit for it? It will not cost you much… It is a great opportunity for you,” Chief Justice Khehar told the Maharashtra government.
The State’s counsel said he would convey this to the authorities. The court posted the case for hearing on October 4, when the finally approved plan would be placed before it.
The court had earlier directed the authorities to remove all encroachments around the dargah and made it clear that no excuses for non-compliance of the Bombay High Court order to remove squatters in the contentious 908 square metre area near the shrine would be accepted. It observed that “believers of religion will never support encroachments,” while refusing pleas by the shopkeepers to modify its order directing the removal of encroachments near the historic 700-year-old shrine.
