The court slammed the state government for its failure to take action against Ambedkar followers who took over the Mill land on December 6
Coming down heavily on the authorities over the recent encroachment of the Indu Mills by the followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday rapped the state government for its “failure to take action against the encroachers”.
“The state government’s way of not taking action against the encroachers at the India United Mills, Dadar, is disturbing,” said the HC.
A division bench of Justices DK Deshmukh and Anoop Mohta did not mince words. “In Ayodhya, 1992, we all saw what a mob can do; we are facing a similar situation now. The country and its citizens are still reeling under its (Ayodhya’s) effects, and the people this time are not ready. Through its inaction, the state is promoting an act of communal tension,” the bench said.
The state government representative was left speechless, and accepted the court’s observation that the state had been unable to take action against the squatters inside the mill, who have been sitting there since December 6. However, he tried to pass the buck to the National Textile Corporation (NTC), by saying that prior intimation about the mob was given by the police, along with directions to tighten security and close the main gates.
The bench responded, “This is not a lock-and-watchman matter, it is much bigger and more serious than you expect. If you are not able to protect government property, how will individuals feel safe? Don’t you feel this action is a challenge to your authority?”
Counsel for the Republican Sena said, “There should be some reconciliation. The central government should be made a party to the petition and statements should be made before the court that a portion of the land will be given to the state government to build Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s memorial.”
The bench replied, “Ambedkar is the father of our Constitution, and this fact is being violated by you. The encroachers have put up statues of Gautam Buddha, who believed in the principle of non-violence. If you think your acts are not justified, then you should immediately vacate the land.”
The court was hearing a petition filed by the NTC seeking directions to the Mumbai police and the state government to evict the encroachers from the mill land.
The HC has now adjourned the hearing till Thursday, and told the state to return with instructions regarding what action it proposes to take to remove the encroachers.
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