Plea In Bombay High Court To Use Shivaji Park Ground For Congress Foundation Day Rally

INC interim president Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi are likely to be present for public meetings.

The petitioners said they approached authorities in the Maharashtra government for permission on October 7, 2021, but haven't been granted permission for the same to date.

"That this Hon'ble Court be pleased to issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the Respondents to grant the necessary permission to the Petitioner for use of Shivaji Park Ground from December 22, 2021 till December 28, 2021 for the purpose of holding Public meeting and other consequential permissions on the occasion of 137th Foundation Day of the Indian National Congress Party to be held at Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai," the petition read.

The plea also seeks necessary permission for the erection of a temporary stage on a portion of Shivaji Park Ground and to use a part of the ground for a public meeting on December 28, 2021.

As interim reliefs, the plea also seeks directions to decide the October 7 application. Accordingly, it is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, invoking Articles 14, 19 and 21, and section 37A of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.

Jagtap's advocate Pradeep Thorat mentioned the plea on Monday before a division bench headed by Justice Amjad Sayed. The court said it would hear the matter on Tuesday.

The petition further said that it would adhere to all the norms prescribed by the civic authority and public health department.

Respondents include the State of Maharashtra through the Urban Development Department, Commissioner of Police and Municipal Commission.

In 2010 the Bombay High Court declared the Shivaji Park area located at Dadar in central Mumbai as a silence zone after an NGO 'Wellcome Trust' filed a public interest litigation'.

The court had then said that programmes can be held at the park only on December 6 (death anniversary of Dr Ambedkar), May 1 (Maharashtra-state foundation day) and on January 26 (Republic Day). However, the state government and BMC later carved out 45 days in a year to permit non-sporting activities in the ground.

According to the plea, BMC has already submitted its report to the Maharashtra Government on whether the Congress rally can be held or not.