SC stays demolition of structure of 50-year-old restaurant in Mumbai

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered status quo on the demolition of an allegedly illegal structure constructed in a 50-year-old restaurant situated in a posh locality of Mumbai.

The top court directed the trial court to decide the civil suit expeditiously, strictly on the basis of evidence adduced by the parties.

A bench of Justices A M Sapre and Indu Malhotra said that it is not expressing any opinion on the merits and demerits of the controversy which is the subject matter of the civil dispute pending before the trial court.

"We direct the concerned trial judge to ensure expeditious disposal of the civil suit filed by the petitioners against the respondents strictly on the basis of the evidence adduced by the parties in the suit," it said.

The bench, while disposing of the appeal filed by the Rasraj restaurant said, "In the meantime, the status quo in respect of the suit property shall be maintained by the parties."