Twitter
Advertisement

High Court rap to govt for delay in amending SRA scheme in Thane

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Observing that enough time had been given to the state to consider a proposal to amend the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme in Thane, the Bombay HC has refused to grant the state three months' time to take a policy decision on the issue.

However, the court granted a short time to the state till August 14 to comply with its earlier orders by taking a policy decision on a proposal forwarded to it by the Thane Municipal Corporation which envisages removal of technical hitches to ensure smooth implementation of the SRA scheme.

The court noted that despite its earlier orders, the government had not taken decision on the issue for over a year and now it wanted more time to carry out the proposed amendment. "In the face of the orders of this court which we have quoted above, it is not possible to accept the request of the state to extend the time for a period of three months," observed a bench comprising justices Abhay Oka and A S Chandurkar.

The court warned that if the state did not take a policy decision on the issue by August 14, it would take up for hearing on August 19 a contempt petition filed by slum dwellers in Thane, who had challenged the SRA scheme and urged modification by the government to remove technical hitches. Until then, the hearing on the contempt petition will be kept pending, the judges noted.

The state had filed an application on June 13 seeking three months' time to take a policy decision to consider the proposal for modification of SRA scheme.

The court noted that time was granted to the state by its order dated May 3, 2013, to take a policy decision on amending the SRA scheme in Thane. Later, by an order dated November 28, 2013, extension was granted as a "last chance" till December 31.

Another court order on February 21, 2014, recorded a statement of the government pleader that the state will take a decision within a period of one month from that date and accordingly, time was extended by one month, which expired on March, 28 this year.

Yet another high court order dated April 7 noted that the file was pending before the CM and no decision could be taken till the Lok Sabha elections were over as the code of conduct was applicable. Therefore, time was extended till May 31, 2014 with a rider that no further time would be granted.

Again, on July 10, the government pleader produced for perusal of Bombay HC, a noting made by the CM, in which he stated that, for taking a policy, decision time of three months was required. The petitions were filed by Dilip Madhukar Burkhe and Thane Shahar Zopadpatti Nagri Vikas Samiti through its President Rajaram Gopal Mane and others. The state was represented by pleader S N Patil.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement