Structures were allegedly not sanctioned by the municipal corporation
MUMBAI: The state government on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that of the 388 police beat chowkies in the city, only 119 had sanction from the BMC. Public prosecutor Satish Borulkar told HC the 269 chowkies that did not have permission from the BMC will either be regularised or demolished. Nameplates of chowky sponsors will be removed in the next 30 days.
This came in the wake of a PIL filed by Khar-resident IK Chhugani of People for Legal and Emotional Assistance to the Deserving (PLEAD). He had alleged that a number of police chowkies in Mumbai were constructed without approval from concerned authorities and were using electricity illegally. The court held that insufficient funds provided by the state home department led to the alleged illegalities and that the state government must ensure that police chowkies are built with proper facilities. “The police department should not earn out of ads and sponsorships,” Justice Patel said.
An affidavit filed by Hemant Karkare, Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) said that there are 52 beat chowkies in the city carrying the names of sponsors and nine chowkies displaying advertisements. The affidavit also said that they will seek permission to use electricity in the chowkies. Borulkar added that they will have to appoint an electricity inspector to survey the chowkies and submit the report to the court.
Justice Patel and Justice Amjad Sayed directed the chief secretary (home) to rectify the irregularities pointed out in the PIL and file a compliance report by January 9, 2008.
