In a setback for the Bengal Club, the Bombay high court on Wednesday dismissed its application challenging BMC’s order of reducing the area allotted to it in Shivaji Park to hold Durga Puja from Octob
In a setback for the Bengal Club, the Bombay high court on Wednesday dismissed its application challenging BMC’s order of reducing the area allotted to it in Shivaji Park to hold Durga Puja from October 6 to October 11 this year. Bengal Club had approached the high court, challenging BMC’s decision to allot a mere 194 square feet area for erection of pandal for installation of idol and performance of Durga Puja this year as against 11.40 square yards allotted to it in the past.
The applicant’s lawyer, D.N. Nalavade, contended before the division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Amjad Sayed that Bengal Club had been organising the event since the past 80 years and over 50,000 people, including elders and children participated in it. Advocate Nalavade argued that the place transformed into a “mini Bengal” and for a disciplined darshan during this monsoon, it was necessary to have adequate space to erect the pandal.
On the other hand, BMC’s counsel, S.U. Kamdar informed the court that last year, permission to hold Durga Puja was granted to the club on certain conditions and the applicant was clearly told that if these conditions were breached, the civic body would not grant permission to it the next year.
