In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has granted judicial approval to the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial project in Dadar, bringing an end to a prolonged legal battle. The decision clears the path for the construction of the memorial dedicated to the late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray, a project that had been stalled for the past seven years.
On Tuesday, the High Court dismissed all public interest litigations (PILs) filed against the project. The petitions had been submitted by Bhagwanji Rayani, Pankaj Rajmachikar, Janmukti Morcha, and Santosh Daundkar, who had raised multiple objections regarding the memorial’s location and procedural lapses.
Key concerns included the allocation of the Mayor's Bungalow for the memorial, the grant of land on a 99-year lease at a nominal rate, and allegations of the government bypassing due legal procedures.
However, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne had earlier reserved its verdict after hearing all sides. The final hearing took place on June 24, and the judgment, delivered on July 1, concluded that the state government, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial Trust had followed the necessary legal processes.
The court observed that a public notice had been issued regarding the land-use change, and citizens’ objections were duly considered. It also accepted the government’s stance that the land allotment was a policy decision and within its jurisdiction.
Officials noted that the Mayor's Bungalow, which is at the heart of the project, has been preserved and renovated as a heritage structure, further reinforcing the cultural significance of the site.
This decision is expected to accelerate the inauguration and construction of the memorial, marking a milestone in honoring one of Maharashtra’s most influential political figures.