The Times of India                   04.03.2013

No BMC order to not allow girls, couples into garden

MUMBAI: The BMC has denied issuing any directives to not let lone women and unmarried couples inside Joseph Baptista garden in Mazgaon.

It was reported that several girls and couples who went to the 87-year-old garden at Mazgaon were being turned away by the security guards apparently to prevent any untoward incident.

Deputy municipal commissioner (gardens and security) S S Shinde said the BMC has not issued any such directive to the security officers of the garden. "We are inquiring the reason behind him not allowing lone women and couples to enter the garden. We are also checking if the local police issued any such directive or not." He also said if it was found that the guards were doing this without any directives from the authorities, action would be taken against them.

The Joseph Baptista garden is one of the oldest gardens in the city, it is built on a water reservoir.

"The guards have been told to keep a check on anti-social elements from entering the gardens, but no such specific instructions to keep common public out have been given," said another civic official.

Last year, BMC had asked hoardings of a film to be taken off from bus stops and BEST buses after senior corporators and former Mayor had taken objection to it.