The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has lodged a case against the president and manager of the Children Welfare Centre (CWC). The allegations come from a complaint by Bharati Lavekar, a BJP MLA from Versova. She has accused the CWC of breaching their contract with the BMC. The complaint was filed on Sunday, October 15.
The CWC is accused of unlawfully occupying a 14,000-square-foot municipal space. The MLA's complaint alleges that the CWC subleased the facility to a nationwide chain of schools.
The BMC leased the property to the CWC in 1983 for INR 1 per year, with the understanding that it would be used to run a high school. However, complaints suggest that the facility is charging very high fees. It should be noted that it is supposed to provide free education.
Local officials found extensive unauthorised construction during an inspection on October 9. It is also alleged that CWC was running a graduate college there. The school building's ground floor had unpermitted construction, and the fundamental structure had been changed without obtaining necessary approvals.
The wall separating the school from a public playground was allegedly removed without authorisation. Structural changes were made without informing or taking permission from BMC, including merging classrooms and laboratories. Officials noted that nearly 400 students were at risk due to unlawful commercial use of the terrace.
The BMC served a notice to Ajay Kaul, the president of CWC, and Prashant Kashid, the manager, on October 13. According to a report by the Free Press Journal, Kaul maintains that no illegal construction has taken place. He plans to contest the allegations in the high court.
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