India, April 23 -- The State Minority Commission on Tuesday pulled up BMC officials for the hasty demolition of the 90-year-old Digambar Jain temple in Neminath Co-operative Housing Society, Vile Parle East, on April 16. The demolition happened within hours after the stay order from the city civil court ended.

"The BMC action was excessive. They should have given more time to vacate the premises after the stay order ended," said Chetan Dedhia, vice-chairman of the Commission, who surveyed the site on Tuesday evening. The BMC action had led hundreds of members of the Jain community to undertake a silent protest march on the city's streets on April 19.

As per the survey, the BMC team reached the spot at 10 am and started the demolition at...