The Maharashtra Government faced flak from the Supreme Court on Monday for failing to evict squatters from the area leading to the famous Haji Ali Dargah in south Mumbai.
Granting two weeks as a final opportunity for the State civic agency to clear squatters from an area of about 908 squre metre situated close to the Dargah, the bench, headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar, warned that if the order was not implemented, the Deputy Collector of Colaba zone will be held personally responsible.
The bench wondered why the State failed to carry out the eviction when the Haji Ali Dargaj Trust fully supported the initiative and even helped clear some of the encroachments on its own. The Court had directed the State to rid the historic place of encroachment and draw out a beautification plan to make the Dargah a pilgrim centre of international standards.
On Monday, the bench of CJI Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud dismissed all applications filed by encroachers seeking permission to continue their business on the land forming part of the 908 metres stretch. The Dargah Trust informed the Court that squatters were not removed from 500 square metre land.