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The Bombay High Court has restrained entry and activity at a high-rise building coming up near INS Shikra, the naval air station and VVIP heliport in Colaba, following concerns raised by the Indian Navy. The Navy challenged the construction as illegal, stating that mandatory defence clearances were not taken despite the project's proximity to a sensitive installation. The court intervened after being informed that plan amendments increased the building's height and floors, raising security risks, especially ahead of an expected VVIP movement.
The Indian Navy has approached the Bombay High Court against a high-rise building under construction near INS Shikra, the naval air station and VVIP heliport located in Colaba, South Mumbai. The Navy termed the construction illegal and unauthorised, stating that it was permitted without the mandatory No Objection Certificate from the defence authorities, which is required for any structure within a restricted zone around sensitive installations. Advertisement
After hearing the matter, the High Court directed that no workers or any other persons be allowed to enter the construction site until further orders. The court noted that security concerns required immediate attention, particularly as a VVIP visit involving the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is expected at the naval heliport. The restriction on access will continue until the court takes a final view on the issue.
The petition was filed by the Commanding Officer of INS Shikra, who submitted that the building, known as Jadhavji Mansion, stands dangerously close to the operational area of the air station. It was argued that while initial permissions may have been granted earlier, multiple amendments made to the plans after 2011 led to an increase in the building's height and number of floors without obtaining fresh defence clearances. According to the Navy, these changes created a direct line of sight into sensitive areas, including the heliport.
The Navy further stated that it had repeatedly objected to the construction in writing, but the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation continued to allow the project to proceed. The petition alleged that the civic body failed to act under provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act and overlooked national security considerations while granting approvals.
Emphasising the seriousness of the issue, the Navy maintained that the structure posed a risk to the safety of naval operations, VVIP movements and overall national security. It sought demolition of the building, arguing that partial corrective measures would not adequately address the security threat arising from its location and height. The High Court observed that permissions granted without mandatory defence clearance could be legally untenable and decided to maintain the status quo until it passes further orders.
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