Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has criticised the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for its failure to demolish an unauthorised mosque and emphasised the need for law enforcers to instill in citizens that violations of the law will not be tolerated.

A division bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata, on March 10, directed the TMC to complete the demolition within two weeks after the conclusion of Ramzan and set April 14 as the deadline.

Rejecting TMC’s claim that strong opposition from a mob prevented them from carrying out the demolition, the court asserted, “In a democratic State, a person/ group of persons or an association cannot be even permitted to say that it will not follow the law of the land and will oppose it on any ground.”

The bench further stressed, “It is also necessary for the law enforcers to imbibe in the minds of the citizens that the violation of law and/or opposition to implement the law by the State will not be countenanced and/or tolerated.”

The order was passed in a petition by a private housing company, New Shree Swami Samartha Borivade, which alleged that a mosque and prayer hall were illegally constructed on its land in Thane district. The company claimed that Gazi Salauddin Rehmatulla Hoole alias Pardeshi Baba Trust encroached upon its 18,122-square-metre land since 2013 and constructed a ground-plus-one structure comprising a mosque and prayer hall.

In January, TMC had ordered the trust to demolish the structure within 15 days, failing which it would take action. However, earlier this month, the corporation informed the court that only partial demolition had been carried out due to resista`nce from devotees offering prayers. It assured the court that the remaining demolition would be completed four weeks after Ramzan.

The HC questioned TMC on the steps taken to prevent the construction of such a large illegal structure. Noting that the trust had assured it would not oppose the demolition, the court directed, “We make it clear that the corporation shall undertake the balance demolition work immediately after the holy month of Ramazan ends and shall complete it by April 14.”