In his concurring opinion in a case relating to building collapses, the CJ also discussed about the stark inequalities resulting from contrast between wealthy and poor in the city of Mumbai.
“While the affluent enjoy lavish life-styles and show-off their new expensive acquisitions, the whole lot struggling day long for securing their daily share of meal lack proper housing facilities and even the basic of civic amenities,” CJ Datta stated.
With a huge gap existing between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ in the city, CJ Datta opined that even bringing in token equality would not be possible in the near future.
“The gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is so pronounced that no matter whatever welfare measures are thought of by social, political and economic reforms, it may not be possible in the near future to achieve even a token equality,” the judgment said.
In this backdrop, he was reminded of a popular Bollywood number from the 1950s which had echoed similar sentiments – ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’
“No wonder, as far back as in 1956, a melodious duet of two extremely popular voices of Bollywood cautioned that it was difficult (mushkil) to live in (erstwhile) Bombay and that one would have to try hard to find a heart (dil) here,” the judge said in his judgment.
Source: Barandbench
