Mumbai (The Hindu): The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the BJP to consider the suggestion by a citizens’ group to vacate its office near Nariman Point on land marked as recreational space.

A division bench of Justices AS Oka and CV Bhadang was hearing a PIL filed by the Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens’ Welfare Trust and others, which contends that the office and some government structures encroach upon open space.

“Bombay is short of open areas. Take instructions on the suggestions made by the petitioners whether all parties can agree to vacate within a reasonable time,” the court told BJP counsel SU Kamdar.

Government pleader JS Saluja informed the court that the government and the BJP had signed a two-year lease agreement from May 31, 1989, a copy of which he submitted. However, he said there were no available records of any extensions to the original agreement and papers related to this may be with the government. He produced receipts showing the BJP had been paying rent to the government. .

In an affidavit, the BMC had stated that 2,682 sq ft had been allotted to the BJP for its office. The petitioners claim it is spread over 9,000 sq ft. In its response, the BJP will have specify if it will consider moving out or reduce its office space to 2,682 sq ft. The matter will come up for hearing on March 1.