The Bombay High Court has ordered the Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) to tear down illegal buildings on land set aside for a police station and staff housing. The court criticized the MMC for not taking action and stressed the importance of following the law.
A group of people, led by Nihal Ahmed Abdullah, claimed they owned a piece of land in Malegaon. They inherited this land from their father, Abdullah Gulam Mohammed, who bought it in 1986. The land was part of a development plan approved by the State Government but was later set aside for public use.
The group complained about illegal buildings on their land, which they say were built with the help of local authorities. Despite their complaints, the MMC did nothing, leading the group to ask the court for help.
"The numerous illegal buildings on the Petitioners' land should not be ignored by the MMC," the court noted.
The court, led by Justices G. S. Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe, was surprised by the MMC's lack of urgency. The MMC argued that other public projects were more important, but the court disagreed, saying that illegal buildings cannot be ignored.
The court mentioned past cases where illegal buildings were dealt with strictly. The MMC had claimed that the rainy season stopped them from taking action, but the court found this excuse unacceptable.
The court ordered the MMC to tear down the illegal buildings within 30 days, with police help if needed. The MMC's failure to act earlier was seen as neglecting their responsibilities.
"Illegal buildings must be dealt with strictly to make sure the law is followed," the court stated.
The court ordered the Malegaon Municipal Corporation to demolish the illegal structures within 30 days, emphasizing the importance of enforcing the law and not tolerating unauthorized constructions.
