The BMC is deliberately delaying action against Sun Beach resort in Gorai to allow owners time to regularise its illegally built structures,” alleged activist Chandrakant Gupta. Even though the BMC’s law department has instructed the R Central ward office to initiate action, officials have decided to wait to find out if the owners have applied for regularisation of illegal constructions. The move is in contradiction to the recent judgments of the Bombay High Court, which had stated that the law cannot be used as a “weapon” to regularise unauthorised constructions. It is to avoid political wrath, said a senior BMC official.

HC paved the way

The Bombay High Court on April 26 paved the way for the BMC to demolish a swimming pool, rooms and other structures built illegally at the seafront resort in Gorai, by dismissing an appeal filed by owner Abdul Hamid Mapkhan Shah against the BMC’s notice. On June 15, the BMC’s law department informed the R Central ward office that there is no stay by court on initiating action against Sun Beach resort. A copy of the letter is with mid-day. The letter, flagged as “treat as most urgent”, mentions, “In present suit, there is no restraining order against the BMC. Therefore, you are at liberty to take action as per the provision of law and send the action taken report to this (law) department.”