Mumbai News: Irla Residents Warn of Protests Over BMC's Alleged Plan To Demolish Legal Crucifix

Community groups warned that any plans by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to demolish a legal crucifix in Irla, Vile Parle, could lead to protests. 

Residents of Irla said that the Assistant Municipal Commissioner of K West municipal ward allegedly threatened to demolish a cross at the junction of S V Road and Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg. 

In a letter to the BMC, police and state government, civic activist group, Watchdog Foundation, has pointed out that following the Supreme Court’s directive on religious structures located in Government/Public spaces (Civil Appeal No. 8519/2006), the state government established a special Committee vide a GR on 5 May 2011, to determine the regularisation or relocation of such religious structures. The committee designated the holy cross at Irla Junction as a Category A  protected religious structure.

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The Watchdog Foundation said that as the crucifix is a protected structure, it cannot be demolished without a legal process. The organisation said that municipal officers will face contempt of court proceedings if they demolish a structure protected by a committee constituted on the Supreme Court's orders.

Watchdog Foundation accused the ward office of targeting the Christian community while ignoring encroachments of footpaths by illegal hawkers. The BMC has been told that all holy crosses across the 24 municipal wards have been documented. This included a letter to the BMC from the local community on 15 November 2003 acknowledged by the municipal office.