India, Sept. 2 -- The Bombay High Court has directed the demolition of dangerously dilapidated buildings in two housing societies in Vasai (West), observing that public safety must prevail over disputes raised by a handful of dissenting members.

A division bench of justices GS Kulkarni and Manjusha Deshpande made it clear that once a building is declared unsafe, residents cannot obstruct the municipal corporation from demolishing it, nor can minority members delay redevelopment decisions taken by an overwhelming majority.

The court's decision assumes significance as it comes days after 17 people died when a portion of an illegal four-storey residential building collapsed in Virar on August 27.

The case in the high court concerned build...