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A plea has been filed in Bombay High Court seeking 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 filed by one Prakash Belwade prayed 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.

After the late singer Lata Mangeshkar was cremated 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.

However, the petitioner 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 thereafter 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,” the plea stated.

The plea prayed that the High Court should direct the government to “formulate appropriate and suitable guidelines” for protecting the playground and adjacent area of Shivaji Park to preserve its legal status and its historical importance.

Cause Title: Prakash Tukaram Belwade vs Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai & Ors