BJP cut a sorry figure as the party legislator Ashish Shelar has filed a PIL alleged de-reservation of a part of prime trust land in Bandra for development under the DCR – 2034. This was when the urban development department was headed by Eknath Shinde who took over as the Chief Minister on June 30.
Shelar in his petition has challenged the urban development department’s notification of March 12, 2021 and the subsequent corrigendum released thereafter approving the alleged dereservation/ and or medication proposed by the Bai Avabai Petit Parsi Girls Orphanage on a prime plot in Bandra. He had alleged that the reservation on the land of Bai Avabai Petit Parsi Girls Orphanage was changed for private gain.
Shelar alleged that the trustees of the Orphanage joined hands with the government officials for the dereservation and they were involved in disposing of the trust properties.
Shelar in his petition submitted that the trust's assets are being used for private gain. The reservation of public facilities on the reserved land is being reduced and a building for private persons is being constructed on it. This decision has been taken for the commercial interest of a private builder, he claimed.
The petition was filed in February 2022. The petition came before the Chief Justice of the Mumbai High Court on Friday (July 1). However, due to lack of time, the petition could not be heard.
BJP insiders said with the change in the government the ball is now in Shelar’s court whether to pursue or withdraw the petition or seek probe.
