HC to decide events as Shivaji Park impasse continues

With no signs of resolution of a dispute between the state government and BMC on deciding the 30 days in a year when Shivaji Park can be used for non-sport activities, organisations wanting to host events at the Dadar ground will have to approach Bombay High Court (HC) for now.

The state government told HC Thursday BMC should do the job as it was the planning authority under Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act. BMC said the state government should issue the notification.

HC had said on January 4 it would not hear applications for permission to host functions at Shivaji Park and asked the state government to issue a notification listing the 30 days on which events would be allowed at the ground. It asked the government to invite applications for 2014 and finalise the list by November.

HC will now have to decide whether Shivaji Park is to be classified as a “recreation ground” or a “playground”. As long as this dispute is pending, it will decide events at the venue.

As per MRTP Act, the state government can allow non-sport activities on a playground for a maximum 30 days in a year.

In May 2010, HC had directed the area around the ground be made a silence zone. Pursuant to the order, several organisations approached the court seeking nod to host functions at Shivaji Park.