Bombay High Court

During the hearing of two PILs filed by Rajiv Mishra and advocate Mayura Maru raising concerns over mushrooming illegal constructions in Navi Mumbai, the Bombay High Court took a stern view on the issue and has  directed that criminal cases should be registered against builders responsible for them.

The division bench of Justices an S Oka and V L Achiliya who were herring the plea said, “People are being taken for a ride. FIR needs to be registered against these builders and Criminal law needs to be set in motion. Illegal construction is a serious offence under the IPC and the MRTP & builders should not only be held responsible, but also penalized for it.

The court has directed a senior police officer from Navi Mumbai to be present before it on October 19. “We would like to know what steps the police have taken against defaulting builders. A special team comprising senior officers to inquire into this should be constituted by the Police Commissioner of Navi Mumbai,” it added.

The state government had told the court earlier this week that it plans to regularize all illegal constructions in Navi Mumbai and a policy on this will be framed shortly.