Weddings to be allowed at BMC school halls throughout the year

The BMC will allow citizens to host wedding receptions in halls of municipal schools throughout the year, against the existing rule of allowing such functions only when schools are in vacation.

Objecting to BMC's condition that such events can only be held during vacations, Shiv Sena corporator Kishori Pednekar raised a notice of motion demanding that wedding ceremonies be allowed in civic school halls any day of the week year-round.

Civic rules allow halls in schools run by the BMC to host functions, including weddings. In view of schoolchildren getting distracted by these functions, the corporation set a condition that premises will be rented out only during summer, Diwali or Christmas vacations.

"The corporation allows weddings only during vacations but wedding dates are set according to stars and not according to vacations," said Pednekar. She added that poorer sections of the city would benefit if the corporation revoked this condition.

"Those living in slums have to shell out a lot of money for hiring private halls and also the food and other expenses during weddings. If the corporation rents out these spaces throughout the year, not only will it earn revenue but also help these people," said Congress corporator Mohsin Haider.

Explaining the corporation's stand on the issue, additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani said, "We had stopped renting school halls for such functions because if the wedding was on a Sunday, the work to put up the stage and stalls would begin on Saturday. Moreover when schoolchildren return Monday they are greeted by dirty premises left behind by wedding party." However, as support for the proposal came from councillors across parties, Adtani gave in to the demand on certain conditions.

He said, "We will rent out the school premises for weddings on certain conditions. One is that the school should be informed a month in advance and second, the marriage certificate should be produced as proof," said Adtani.

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