Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday questioned why it was taking four years to get a burial ground ready and directed that a 37,000 sq m plot of land in Thane should not be put to any use other than as a burial and cremation plot, for which it is reserved. The HC bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar also directed the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to remove any encroachments on the plot immediately.
The HC was hearing a PIL filed by resident Melwyn Fernandes to ensure adequate land is made available in Thane for Christian cemeteries. The HC, after hearing his advocate Sunita Banis, also allowed him to make a developer and the Urban Development Department parties to the PIL. The HC order recorded that advocate Kailas Dewal for the developer “vehemently denied” allegations that it was in any way using the reserved plot for any “construction-related purposes.”
“You are aware of paucity of burial places in Mumbai, does it need any elaboration?” the bench led by CJ asked orally during the hearing and further directed the TMC to prepare and submit by February 12 a plan to fence the land to secure it from illegal encroachments. The HC also directed TMC to file an affidavit, to be vetted by the municipal commissioner himself, to set out the status of other plots reserved as burial or cremation grounds.