HC seeks reply from PMC, SRA over construction on graveyard

Expressing shock over allegations of a graveyard in Pune being dug and skeletons pulled out for development and construction of five SRA buildings, the Bombay High Court today sought reply from the Pune Municipal Corporation and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority.
A division bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and S C Gupte was hearing a public interest litigation by one Mushtaque Fakhruddin alleging that a three-acre land having a Masjid and burial ground was fraudulently sanctioned for development by the civic body in connivance with a developer Golden Constructions.
According to the petitioner, the respondent developers have started construction of five buildings on the burial land and are removing skeletons from the graveyard.

"It is shocking where we are headed to. Hope skeletons are not being removed," Justice Chandrachud said.
The bench has directed the Pune corporation and SRA to file an affidavit by July 16 stating if construction is taking place on the graveyard.
According to the petitioner, the developer in 2005 amalgamated the burial ground and an adjacent land housing slums for development by allegedly obtaining sanction and commencement certificate from the corporation and SRA. The civic body and SRA illegally sanctioned building plans on the property, the petition alleged.