Nagpur: “Who gave drinkers a secret exit route?” the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court orally asked during a hearing on allegations that patrons of restaurants and dhabas in Bajaj Nagar are using a lawn along the Shankar Nagar-Bajaj Nagar road to leave the area after late-night drinking sessions.
The court directed Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) counsel Jemini Kasat to conduct a spot inspection and verify the claim. The issue arose after the civic body demolished illegal bridges in the area, following which the petitioner alleged that drinkers were using the lawn as an alternative exit. The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Raj Wakode on a PIL filed by three Shankar Nagar residents — Lalit Harode, Aseem Baodia and Mrudula Phadke. The petitioners have raised concerns over alleged irregularities and violations at restaurants in the stretch between Bajaj Nagar and Shankar Nagar. During the hearing, the court directed the civic body’s counsel to inspect the site and ascertain whether the allegation was factually correct. At the last hearing, the NMC informed HC that it had fenced off a site in Bajaj Nagar with tin sheets to prevent its alleged misuse by hotel operators and that the arrangement would ensure the premises could not be used even temporarily. It also stated that it had written to MSEDCL seeking relocation of dangerous live electricity wires in the vicinity. The PIL alleges that activities continuing late into the night at the Kachipura establishments have been causing inconvenience to residents and creating potential law-and-order concerns.
The residents, through senior counsel Akshay Naik, filed an affidavit on Thursday in response to the NMC’s reply.