Can't allow unauthorised buildings to take even one innocent life, says Bombay HC
Mumbai(PTI): The Bombay High Court on Thursday said it will not allow unauthorised buildings to take the life of even one "innocent person", while taking a serious note of the dangers posed by such structures.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik was hearing a petition filed by three residents from neighbouring Thane, who had sought the demolition of nine unauthorised buildings in Mumbra that were being inhabited by several families, to avoid any untoward incident or loss of life.
The bench asked the state government why a 1998 government resolution, which was still being implemented, restrained civic authorities from demolishing unauthorised structures during the monsoon season.
"Is demolishing an unauthorised building riskier during the rains? What is the logic behind the GR?" the court asked.
The petitioners, one of whom is a state witness in the 2013 'Lucky Compound' building collapse in which 76 people were killed, approached the court through advocate Neeta Karnik.
On Thursday, Karnik told the court that though the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had served several demolition notices to the unauthorised structures, and had even cut off power and water supply, residents continued to live there and had even managed to access power and water through illegal channels.
The TMC's counsel Ram Apte confirmed that the civic body had sent several demolition notices to the nine buildings, but residents had refused to vacate.
Karnik said that the buildings in question were dilapidated and unfit for inhabitation.
Advocate Suhas Oak, who appeared for the residents of the said buildings, urged the court to take a "humanitarian view", and stop the TMC from demolishing the buildings at least till the end of monsoon season.
To this, the court said, "We are on humanitarian ground already, as we want you to live. One building that collapses might take with it several lives, and also bring down neighbouring buildings."
"We will not allow an unauthorised building to take the life of even one innocent person," the high court said.
In December 2021, the court had passed a detailed order in a suo motu (on its own) PIL asking the Maharashtra government to demolish all unauthorised buildings on public land across the state.
"Your clients should have been aware of it (the order). What is the purpose of us passing 150 pages long orders otherwise?" the court said.
The bench then directed that the "senior-most member" of each family residing in these nine buildings must give an undertaking by this evening stating that all residents will vacate the structures by August 31.
Oak argued that the subject of the petition was only nine buildings. "At least 90 per cent of buildings in Mumbra are unauthorised. In such a case, the government needs to devise a uniform policy," he said.
The high court, however, said that while a policy should come into force, one couldn't say that in the meantime, let unauthorised development continue.
The bench in an oral direction said that the TMC can refrain from carrying out the demolition action against the nine buildings till August 31.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
