The Bombay High Court today directed the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner to decide by May 7 whether the century-old LIC Building in south Mumbai should be demolished or preserved as a heritage structure.

The division bench headed by Justice A S Oka was hearing a petition filed by LIC seeking demolition of the building on the ground that it is dilapidated. The heritage conservation committee has recommended that it be preserved. "The Commissioner has to apply his mind and decide either to override the committee's recommendation and demolish it or barricade the entire structure and surroundings," the court said.