Remove Haji Ali Encroachments In Two Weeks: SC To Deputy Collector

“What are you talking? You have the Bombay High Court order, supported by the Supreme Court. Comply with it or serious consequences will follow”, it said asking the Deputy Collector of Colaba zone to personally appear on next date of hearing. “You will be personally held accountable”, CJI Khehar told the officer who was present in the courtroom.

Giving an ultimatum to the Maharashtra Government and setting a stiff deadline,the Supreme Court today told the Maharashtra government that it will face serious consequences if squatters from 908 square metre area near the historic Haji Ali Dargah shrine in south Mumbai are not removed in two weeks.

“Non-compliance of the order will invite serious consequences and let the Deputy Collector of Colaba zone remain present on the next date of hearing”, the bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said issuing the warning.

The bench made it clear that the encroachments have to be removed within two weeks from today from the 908 square metre area earmarked in the Bombay High Court order.

The bench asked the government to remove encroachments as mentioned in the notice issued on March 22 of Deputy Collector Encroachment

Removal in which it was said that the area under encroachment was 908 square metres and had noted that the dargah trust had no objection in removing the squatters. The fresh direction to the Mumbai civic body came as the Haji Ali Dargah Trust (HADT), which had volunteered to remove the encroachments, today expressed inability in removing the encroachments from an area of about 500 square metres. Senior advocate Raju

Ramchandran, appearing for trust, said that out of total 908 square metres area, from where encroachments are to be removed, illegal occupants were still present in about 500 square metres.

On May 10, appreciating the efforts undertaken by the trust in removing encroachments in the 500 square metre area of the historic shrine, the supreme court ordered complete removal within four weeks.

The apex court had said if the encroachers failed to comply with the order to remove the encroachments by June 6, then the Joint Task Force (JTF) set up by the Bombay High Court will come into picture and begin the work of removing them from June 10 and complete the task by June 30.