The Bombay high court on October 18 restrained the BMC from taking coercive steps against two film studios operating at Madh island. The BMC had issued Balaji Tirupati Cinemas and Expressions Studio notices pursuant to an order of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) rejecting extension of permission following complaints of alleged CRZ violations. The studios challenged the civic notices before the high court. They said, they feared demolition. But the BMC said, the notices were only for taking necessary action after MCZMA’s refusal to extend permission to the studios to operate at Madh Island.
A high court bench of Justices R.D. Dhanuka and Kamal Khata on October 18 restrained the BMC from taking action against the studios and posted the matter for further hearing on November 10. Balaji had moved the court earlier but Expressions filed a fresh plea on October 17. In an earlier order dated September 16 in Expressions’ prior plea, the high court had stayed a notice issued by the BMC on September 13.
