Allows 15,000 sq. metre at Chowpatty

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday allowed space of 15,000 square metre at Girgaum Chowpatty to celebrate Yeshu Janmotsav, a musical event on December 16.

A Division Bench of Justices Ranjit More and Revati Mohite-Dere was hearing a petition filed by Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav pleading the court to direct authorities to grant more space for the celebration.

41,80 sq. metre plot

Previously, a plot of 4,180 square metre was granted but the organisation wanted more space because they feared that a stampede-like situation may occur as they are expecting around 25,000 people, including children and senior citizens. They said that it is the biggest Christian music festival in the city and people come from Thane and Palghar and therefore more space was needed.

Advocate Yashodeep Deshmukh, appearing for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, said that as per an order passed on June 21 by another Bench, the court had accepted the recommendations of the monitoring committee that overlooks the beautification of Girgaum Chowpatty. That committee had said that for the celebration of Krishna Leela, Ram Leela and Yeshu Janmotsav only 4,180 square metre of land would be granted.

The court has directed concerned authorities to grant land and ensure security on December 16.

The court further said that no commercial ventures like stalls and exhibitions should be organised for the generation of money and the festival should be purely religious.