The BMC informed the Bombay High Court (HC) on Tuesday, June 25 that it will relocate the proposed Muslim cemetery in Prajapur village, Marol, in Andheri (East). The decision was made to prevent potential tension with a nearby temple.
A Sunni Muslim trust had requested the removal of a status quo order on a 2,500 square-metre plot of land for burials. The request was heard by Justices Mahesh Sonak and Kamal Khata on October 27, 2020.
The Anjuman Taleem Ul-Quran Sunni Taha Masjid asked for the case to be dismissed. The Masjid argued it had been managing the burial ground as a caretaker since August 2014 under an annual agreement with the BMC. However, this agreement was not renewed, and burial permission was denied due to the High Court's status quo order.
The petitioner, Shri Leva Patidar Bajrang Satsang Mandal, claimed ownership of the nearby land. This land houses two temples and a welfare centre and has been under their control since 1925. The Mandal stated that the area was originally set aside for a hospital.
In February 2023, the BMC explained that the Masjid's renewal request was denied because of the High Court's order from November 10, 2020. The order stated that the land shall not be used as a burial ground or cemetery.
According to the 2034 development plan, the area can only be used as a cemetery after the state government approves it. The BMC will construct a Muslim cemetery at a new site provided by the state's Urban Development Department (UDD).
BMC advocate Kaushik Mhatre stated that the issue is almost resolved. He referred to a letter from the UDD from February 2023 about moving the cemetery to a new location. He added that the relocation aims to prevent a conflict of interest due to the proximity of the mandir to the proposed cemetery.
Mhatre requested time for BMC’s decision to be officially documented. The court stated that any party feeling wronged by the decision could challenge it in court when the BMC files its affidavit regarding the decision.
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