5 months ago
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The Bombay High Court connected Wednesday (December 24, 2025) strongly criticised the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for failing to tackle Mumbai’s worsening aerial contamination and cautioned that it whitethorn see halting approvals for caller operation projects if the civic assemblage does not enactment promptly.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad said the corp has “turned a unsighted eye” to the situation contempt having “wide powers” to intervene. The judges expressed interest implicit the sanctioning of much than 125 large-scale improvement projects, each worthy implicit ₹1,000 crore.
“In a tiny metropolis however tin you authorisation specified projects? This has gone beyond your control. Now you should hold for 2 weeks due to the fact that your civic body isn’t manning anything properly,” the Chief Justice said.
The observations came during the proceeding of petitions connected Mumbai’s deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI).
Earlier, the tribunal had directed BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to look with a factual plan. On Wednesday, elder counsel S.U. Kamdar, representing the BMC, claimed that AQI levels were presently “average, mean and satisfactory” and argued that contamination had reduced compared to past year.
The Bench, however, noted that “one-third of the monitoring devices are either not moving oregon person nary information available.” It besides questioned wherefore lone 39 operation sites were inspected connected Tuesday erstwhile the BMC has 94 flying squads.
“What were the remaining squads doing erstwhile lone 39 of them visited the sites? Why bash you person 94 squads then?” the Chief Justice asked, suggesting GPS trackers and fastener cameras for accountability.
“It is astonishing due to the fact that adjacent postulation constables person GPS and fastener cameras. Why can’t you person it? We deliberation you are not doing thing astatine all. You aren’t doing adjacent bare minimum,” the tribunal said.
Mr. Kamdar explained that galore squad members were deployed connected predetermination duty, but the tribunal rejected this excuse.
“Election work cannot beryllium an excuse. You tin ever marque an exertion to the Election Commission seeking exemption,” the Bench said.
Senior advocator Janak Dwarkadas, appearing for 1 of the petitioners, said, “Right to beingness is subservient to predetermination duty,” portion amicus curiae Darius Khambata asked, “Who volition ballot if radical dice (due to pollution)?”
The Bench summoned Mr. Gagrani again successful the day and it is erstwhile the BMC Commissioner submitted a two-page program for the next 15 days, including astonishment inspections by flying squads and ward-level officers, accrued h2o tankers for heavy cleaning, and stricter compliance checks. The tribunal suggested additional steps specified arsenic banning mobile phones during tract visits and introducing GPS monitoring.
“No 1 should cognize which squad volition beryllium visiting which site. This is simply a sensitive work, they shouldn’t carry mobile phones,” the Chief Justice said, adding that phones should beryllium deposited with drivers oregon the department.
“Issuing stop-work notices oregon show-cause notices is not the solution. You person wide powers, you indispensable cognize however to workout it. You tin adjacent consider terminating the contracts,” the Bench instructed to Mr. Kamdar.
The judges besides sought details from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) connected measures to support workers’ wellness astatine operation sites. Senior advocator Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, appearing for MPCB, said statutory boards were liable for worker safety, but the Bench insisted connected making wellness safeguards a mandatory information for improvement permissions.
The substance volition beryllium heard adjacent connected January 20, 2026. A elaborate bid is awaited.
