During summer, Mumbaikars’ first choice of escape from the heat has been beaches during evenings and late night. Juhu Beach is the busiest of all beaches in Mumbai.
The citizens are also aware that police have regularly been evicting people from beaches around midnight. However, a recent RTI query has revealed that the police have no official notification or order to remove people from the beach.
This prompted an activist, Zoru Bathena, to file an RTI request earlier in April. He asked for a copy of any order or notification from the Santacruz police that restricts civilians' access to Juhu Beach after a certain time. The response from the police station, dated April 29, stated that they had no such official record.
The RTI response has been circulating across the internet, which has been a major concern for Mumbai residents. They are now voicing their opposition to similar midnight evictions at other seaside locations like Girgaon Chowpatty, Bandra Bandstand, and Marine Drive. Netizens are asking for the freedom to enjoy these public spaces without moral policing.
Bathena had previously raised this issue with the deputy commissioner of police but received no assistance. In a report by FPJ, Bathena was quoted saying that the police's role is to ensure safety, not to harass individuals. He also pointed out that visitors to Juhu Beach often face issues simply for being there after dark.
This issue is not limited to Juhu Beach. Bathena also believes that the presence of more people in public areas at night can reduce the likelihood of crimes. This controversy has highlighted the need for clear guidelines and transparency in unnecessary actions.
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