Mount Mary Basilica Denies Stall Allotment Bias Allegations, Says Bandra Fair Process Followed Open Lottery System
Mumbai: The Mount Mary Basilica has rejected allegations of favouritism, financial irregularities and lack of transparency in the allotment of retail stalls at the Mount Mary Steps during the annual Bandra Fair, saying the process was conducted through an open application system followed by a lottery. Lottery System Introduced To Replace Earlier Stall Allocation Practice The allegations have…
The Mount Mary Basilica has dismissed allegations of bias, financial impropriety and a lack of transparency in the allocation of retail stalls during the annual Bandra Fair, claiming the process involved an open application system followed by a lottery. The Basilica implemented this lottery system to replace the previous practice of allotting stalls to the same families.
The allegations surfaced two years after the Basilica switched its methods, with an unsuccessful applicant requesting an independent investigation into the 2025 and 2026 allotment process. He claimed that relatives of two Basilica staff members received stall allocations in both years and sought scrutiny of the applicant and eligible applicant lists, as well as an inquiry into potential conflicts of interest.
Other concerns raised include the sale of stalls intended for church-run organizations at much higher prices, reportedly between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 8 lakh per stall, compared to the official rate of Rs 700 per square foot for a 10 ft x 10 ft stall. Former stall holders have stated that these price increases have negatively impacted their businesses during the fair.
In response to these allegations, Fr Vernon Aguiar, Rector of the Basilica, stated that the allotments had been made with "full transparency" and pledged that all applications, lottery documentation, and payment receipts were available for independent verification. The Basilica also mentioned that 128 stalls were allocated through the lottery, while 20 were reserved for church-run organizations and NGOs. Five of the reserved stalls remained unclaimed and were later released into the open category at the standard rate.
Regarding the allegation concerning relatives of staff members, the Basilica acknowledged a discrepancy in one application, after which the allotment was cancelled and the stall sealed. The Basilica emphasized that the stall remained unsold and unoccupied, and the applicant was not related to a Basilica staff member.
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