PIL filed in Bombay High Court seeking no more cremations, memorials at Shivaji Park – India Today

A public interest litigation (PIL) in Bombay High Court seeks measures to protect Shivaji Park in central Mumbai after recent demands to build a memorial in the park for late singer Lata Mangeshkar.

The petition prays that the court should order the authorities to develop rules to safeguard the playground as well as determine other locations for public funerals and future memorials.

Days after the late singer was cremated with a teary farewell at the recreational ground, in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, BJP MLA Ram Kadam had said that a memorial should be erected at Shivaji Park.

“On behalf of her countless followers and music lovers, I would like to request you for a memorial at the place at the Shivaji Park ground where she was cremated. Honouring the demand from the people, the memorial should be erected immediately as a sign of inspiration for the entire globe,” Kadam had written.

Soon after, Congress lent support to the demand.

However, petitioner, Prakash Belwade, stated that while he has the deepest respect for Lata Mangeshkar, building such a memorial will set a wrong precedent.

“Arranging funerals at Shivaji Park every now and then and thereafter establishing/erecting their memorials at Shivaji Park would set a wrong precedent and would in turn sink the area of Shivaji Park,” the plea filed through advocates PJ Salsingikar and Sayli Wani stated.

Belawade pointed out that the park had also been utilised for the funeral of late Balasaheb Thackeray, founder of the Shiv Sena political party, and the place there after came to be known as Smrutishal (memorial), where people come to pray on his death anniversary.

The petitioner contended how playgrounds and parks were becoming casualties due to the city’s growing population and shrinking open spaces. “Parks and playgrounds are an important element for healthy growth of a society, since children learn to socialize, hone their skills and inculcate a sense of community,” Belwade’s plea stated.