India, Aug. 13 -- The Bombay High Court on Wednesday stayed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) decision to take possession of the Young Men's Christian Association's (YMCA) gymnasium and akhada at the Willingdon Ground in Mumbai Central, granting the organisation interim protection from any adverse action.

A division bench of justices AS Gadkari and Kamal Khata passed the order while hearing a petition filed by YMCA, which stated that the civic body had "no powers" to take possession of the structures, as they were constructed by the organisation after the BMC itself had sanctioned the plans and issued an Intimation of Disapproval (IOD) and a Commencement Certificate (CC).

The dispute began on March 12, when the BMC issued a...