HC to decide on allowing non-sports activities at Shivaji Park

Following a tussle between Maharashtra government and the BMC on whose responsibility it is to earmark 30 days of a year for non sports activities at Shivaji Park, any organisation that wishes to conduct a function there will now have to approach Bombay High Court.

The High Court had earlier directed the Maharashtra government to invite applications from various organisations that wish to conduct functions or rallies at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai and issue a fresh notification listing those functions that can be held at the park for 30 days in a year.

Under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, the state government has the power to allow non sports activities in a play ground only for a period of 30 days in a year. As of now, the state government only allows functions to be held during Republic Day, Independence Day, Maharashtra Day and Ambedkar Jayanti.

The government today approached the court stating that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is the planning authority, has to ear mark the 30 days.

BMC's counsel S U Kamdar, however, opposed this and said under MRTP Act only the state government has power to decide this and issue a notification.

The High Court today said it would now decide whether Shivaji Park was a recreation ground or play ground. While non sports activities can be permitted in a recreation ground, law prohibits use of play grounds for any activity other than sports.

Pending decision on this, the High Court said it would decide on applications of organisations that wish to conduct functions or rallies at Shivaji Park.