The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to stay the eviction of people from nine illegal buildings in Thane district, observing that it wanted all citizens to lead a "dignified life", and not live in fear that their houses might collapse like a "pack of cards" in the rains.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik said it did not want citizens to live a life fraught with the risk of their buildings collapsing during the rains.