07 August,2026 04:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Instead of allowing immediate coercive action, the court directed the petitioner to voluntarily remove the affected portion of the structure within four weeks. Representational Pic/File
The Bombay High Court has said it is not in favour of "bulldozer justice" while allowing a doctor from Maharashtra's Satara district to voluntarily remove part of his residential-cum-hospital building for a road widening project instead of permitting immediate demolition by the civic body, reported the PTI.
The order was passed by the High Court's Kolhapur Bench while hearing a petition challenging demolition notices issued by the Satara Municipal Council.
The HC''s Kolhapur bench, comprising Justices Milind Jadhav and Nandesh Deshpande, passed the order last month while hearing a petition filed by Dilip Patil challenging the notices issued to him by the Satara Municipal Council.
Dr Patil, approached the court after receiving notices stating that a portion of his residential-cum-hospital building would have to be removed to make way for a proposed 15-metre-wide road, the news agency reported.
He challenged the notices after failing to obtain relief from a lower court.
The bench observed that the road widening project was intended to reduce traffic congestion and would benefit the public, as per the PTI.
While acknowledging the petitioner's concerns, the judges said the case primarily involved public welfare and infrastructure development.
The court also noted that the planning authority had not yet completed the process of finalising the road alignment.
During the hearing, the bench remarked that it was "not in favour of any bulldozer justice".
Instead of allowing immediate coercive action, the court directed the petitioner to voluntarily remove the affected portion of the structure within four weeks.
It said coercive demolition would be considered only if the petitioner failed to comply with the order.
The court observed that additional consideration was given because the property serves as both a residence and a hospital.
The High Court also said the petitioner and the Satara Municipal Council were free to negotiate compensation through mutual agreement, according to the PTI.
Until the expiry of the four-week period, the municipal council has been directed not to take any coercive steps against the property, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
