[Juhu land acquisition] BMC to consider representation by Jaya, Amitabh Bachchan; no coercive action: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to not take any coercive action against Bollywood actors Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan in relation to the road-widening issue outside their residential home at Juhu, Mumbai..A Bench of Justices RD Dhanuka and SM Modak also asked the Bachchans to submit their representation to BMC within two weeks from today.The BMC was directed to consider the representation within six weeks and if required, grant personal hearings to both parties. After a decision is taken, the BMC was directed not to take coercive action against the couple for the next three weeks..The Bachchans were issued two notices on April 20, 2017 that stated that certain portions of the plots near their residential property lay within the regular line of the street, and that the BMC intended to take possession of such land along with the wall and structures on the property. The couple deputed their representatives to visit the BMC office and inquire about the notices and discuss the matter with officials. They pointed out to the officials that it would be easier for BMC to widen the street on the opposite side of the location of the plots. .The plea filed by the actors stated that for a period of 4 years and 9 months, till January 28, 2022, no action was taken by the BMC for implementing the notices. In the meantime, they assumed that the notices issued were dropped and hence no formal objection was communicated.On January 28, 2022, certain BMC officers informed the Bachchans verbally that they proposed to implement the notices and will shortly be taking over possession of a portion of the plots as set out in the notices.The petition stated that the notices under challenged do no take into account the building structures existing on the plots that cannot be demolished as per the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act.The BMC has not issued any notices to other holders of plots on the same side of the road, and no action was taken by them for widening the stretch of road showing disparity in action, the petition stated..The petition sought the following reliefs: Quash and set aside the notices issued; andGrant perpetual injunction restraining BMC through officers from enforcing the notices or taking any action.