Bombay HC states procedure not followed in demolition of AIMIM corporator’s house
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The Bombay High Court bench at Aurangabad on Monday observed that due procedure had not been followed in the demolition of properties linked to AIMIM corporator Mateen Patel in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The action was connected to allegations that Nida Khan had been staying at one of the premises before her arrest in the Nashik TCS case.
Patel and Hanif Khan, whose house was also demolished, had challenged the civic body’s notice before the court, Indian Express reported.
Their counsel, Abhaysinh Bhosale, argued that mandatory safeguards laid down by the Supreme Court had not been followed before the demolition was carried out. He submitted that the structures were razed despite procedural lapses.
In the same petition, Patel and Khan have reportedly sought compensation of Rs 2 crore.
The petitioners also argued before the court that the demolition action was arbitrary and had left Khan’s family homeless. The High Court observed that due procedure had not been followed and granted the petitioners liberty to amend their plea.
On May 9, civic authorities had issued notices to Patel alleging illegal construction at a house in Kausar Baug and at an office in the same locality.
The demolition was subsequently carried out by the municipal corporation on May 13, even though the family had already approached the High Court challenging the notice.
According to submissions made before the court, Patel’s family had provided documents to the civic body’s anti-encroachment cell on May 13 and requested 15 days to file a detailed response. They argued that despite this, the demolition proceeded.
The petitioners further contended that the three-day notice issued by the corporation violated a November 2024 Supreme Court ruling that laid down safeguards against arbitrary demolition drives.