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Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday strongly criticised the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for failing to implement effective measures to curb
pollution in Mumbai and warned that it may stop the municipal commissioner’s salary if the situation does not improve. The court made the observation while hearing a 2023 suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) and related petitions on air pollution in Mumbai and its surrounding areas, as per a TOI report.
‘No Genuine and Sincere Effort’, Says Court
A bench comprising Justice Chief Justice Bhushan Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman Shyam said the municipal corporation had shown little seriousness in tackling pollution.“We come to the conclusion that there is no genuine and sincere effort made by the municipal corporation. We may pass a similar order as proposed against the Navi Mumbai commissioner,” said Chief Justice Bhushan Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman Shyam while hearing a 2023 suo motu PIL and related petitions.
The court’s remarks came after it reviewed the steps taken by civic bodies to monitor and control air pollution levels.
Navi Mumbai Civic Body Also Pulled Up
During the hearing, the judges also took strong exception to the affidavit filed by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).When proceedings began, the court noted that the affidavit did not mention 11 sites visited by a committee of advocates appointed to monitor pollution levels.
The judges further observed that the affidavit had been filed by the city engineer and not the municipal commissioner, which they described as a serious lapse.
The judges called this a “belligerent disregard and violation of this court’s order by the municipal commissioner... against whom we propose to pass an order directing him not to draw his salary till further orders”.
Court Signals Tough Action Ahead
The High Court’s observations signal stricter judicial scrutiny of civic bodies over air quality management, especially as pollution continues to remain a major concern in Mumbai and its neighbouring regions.The matter will be heard further, with the court indicating that stronger directions may follow if authorities fail to show visible improvement on the ground.
