Justices Burgess Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla warned that any responsible officers for house demolitions would face jail time. Additional Government Pleader P.P. Kakade clarified that only commercial structures were being demolished, not those protected by court orders.
New Delhi: Today (July 19): The Bombay High Court criticized the Maharashtra Government during a hearing concerning the recent incidents of communal violence and demolitions in Vishalgad. The court questioned the rationale behind demolishing houses during the monsoon season.
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The petitions, filed by Vishalgad residents, addressed the violence that erupted at the Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur on July 14. The unrest followed a protest march led by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati and his supporters against alleged encroachments. Following the protest, houses, shops, and a mosque near the fort were vandalized.
Justices Burgess Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla warned that any responsible officers for house demolitions would face jail time. Additional Government Pleader P.P. Kakade clarified that only commercial structures were being demolished, not those protected by court orders.
The bench questioned Kakade, saying,
“Where is the law and order, Mr. GP? These individuals aren’t your officers, correct? So, who are they? Are you not responsible for maintaining law and order in the state? We want to know if any FIR has been lodged in this matter.”
The court firmly stated,
“We want to emphasize that no structure, whether commercial or residential, should be demolished until further notice. If any demolitions occur, we will take severe action against your officers.”
The court instructed Vishalgad police to review videos of the violence and to appear in court with their findings. The bench questioned the law and order situation, asking who was responsible for maintaining order and whether any FIR had been lodged.
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The court ordered a stay on all demolitions, whether commercial or residential, until further notice and warned of severe consequences if this order was violated. The senior police inspector of Shahuwadi Police Station was directed to report on the actions taken regarding the violence.
The matter has been adjourned to July 29.
Residents’ Plea Highlights Assaults During Protest
Vishalgad residents Ayub Usman Kagadi, Abdulsalim Kasim Malang, and Murad Mhaldar filed a plea stating that a group of protestors was allowed to climb the fort despite police presence and prohibitory orders, influenced by Chhatrapati and around 2,500 right-wing activists.
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Communal slogans were reportedly raised, and the police’s efforts to control the situation were described as inadequate. The violent mob allegedly assaulted residents, including women and children, and damaged several vehicles.
The plea also named Hindu Bandhav Samiti leader Ravindra Padwal, who allegedly tried to demolish the dome of the Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan Dargah.
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