Pune: Trustees and members managing two religious establishments in Kudalwadi have moved the Bombay high court seeking protection from demolition by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and directions for regularising the premises.The high court has issued notices to the civic body and other concerned authorities and posted the matter for hearing on July 1.The petitions came up amid PCMC’s ongoing drive against unauthorised religious structures in Kudalwadi. Earlier this week, the civic body demolished 11 such structures, while four others were razed last month as part of its anti-encroachment drive.The petitioners, including trustees and members managing the religious establishments, told the court that the structures have existed for many years and used as places of worship by local residents.They contended that the deputy commissioner of the urban development department had last year advised occupants of 18 religious structures to approach the municipal corporation for regularisation. Following this, they submitted applications along with the required documents, which are currently pending before the civic administration.The petitioners further argued that the land on which the structures stand either belongs to them or to registered trusts. According to them, the structures have been classified as unauthorised solely because prior permission was not obtained from the municipal corporation’s building permission department.Seeking relief from the court, the petitioners urged that the structures be regularised in accordance with law instead of being subjected to demolition.The PCMC had last year issued notices to 31 unauthorised religious structures in Kudalwadi, including 18 mosques and 13 temples, two months after carrying out a massive demolition drive against illegal constructions spread across nearly 900 acres in the locality.Over the past month, the civic body has demolished 15 religious structures in Kudalwadi— seven mosques, seven temples and an akhada linked to a temple — after issuing notices to occupants. Civic officials said action against the remaining structures will be taken after pending appeals before various authorities are decided.At least six structures have also approached the Waqf Board, which has granted temporary protection from demolition. The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing before the board on June 24.
