Mumbai News: Sion School Under Probe For Unauthorised Building, Alleges ‘Selective Scrutiny’, Cites Heritage Structures

Mumbai: Lady of Good Counsel School in Sion has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging ‘selective scrutiny’ after being flagged for operating in an unauthorised building.

The school contends that numerous British-era structures, including prominent institutions such as the Bombay High Court and the BMC headquarters, do not possess Occupation Certificates (OC) simply because the requirement did not exist at the time of their construction.

In its letter, the school has questioned why similar scrutiny is not applied to other heritage buildings across the city. “If the state is genuinely concerned about public safety and compliance, it should adopt a uniform approach rather than targeting individual institutions arbitrarily,” the letter states, calling for consistency in the enforcement of regulations.

Advocate Godfrey Pimenta, who submitted the letter on behalf of the school, emphasised that such long-standing educational institutions should be permitted to operate as long as they adhere to all necessary safety guidelines.

He pointed out that the school undergoes a structural audit every four years and submits a ‘Structural Stability Certificate’ to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). Additionally, the school also provides a fire safety certificate to demonstrate its compliance with safety standards.

As per Section 353B of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, any building that has completed 30 years of existence is mandated to undergo a structural audit to assess its stability and safety. These audits are a crucial part of ensuring that older buildings remain fit for occupation and do not pose a risk to students and staff.

Meanwhile, Devidas Mahajan, Education Inspector (South), confirmed that an investigation into the matter is currently underway. “At this stage, no conclusive decision has been reached. We will carefully consider the school’s perspective before making any determinations,” he stated.

The Maharashtra state education department had recently ordered an inquiry after receiving a complaint regarding the school’s operation in an unauthorised building. The department has since directed the education section of the MCGM to thoroughly examine the matter and submit a detailed report before any further action is taken.