The Bombay High Court has delivered a stern rebuke to civic authorities across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) for their persistent failure to curb the rampant spread of illegal constructions. The court singled out municipal corporations in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan Dombivli, and Bhiwandi-Nizampur, holding them directly accountable for the mushrooming of thousands of unlawful structures.
A Legacy of Inaction and 'Lawlessness'
In a series of directives issued over the past three years, the court has consistently highlighted the authorities' neglect. A pivotal observation came in June 2025, when the bench noted that a massive number of illegal structures could have been avoided if civic bodies had simply implemented a detailed Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Maharashtra Urban Development Department back in March 2009. This GR laid down stringent guidelines for action against unauthorized constructions.
The court reserved particularly sharp criticism for the Bhiwandi-Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC), accusing it of "lawlessness". It questioned why the corporation had not taken effective legal steps to vacate status quo orders protecting certain illegal structures, stating the body seemed to be in a "state of deep slumber".
Direct Orders for Demolition and Surveys
The High Court has moved beyond warnings to issue specific, time-bound orders. On June 13, 2025, it commanded the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) commissioner to conduct a comprehensive survey of all illegal structures, including those in developing areas and green zones, and to act against them promptly.
Similarly, in March 2025, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) was directed to complete a detailed survey of its jurisdiction within four months to identify all irregular constructions and take action after hearing the occupants. The court's crackdown has been widespread:
- In March 2024, the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) was ordered to act against 4,570 identified illegal structures.
- By November 2024, KDMC was told to demolish 65 illegal buildings within three months, a order it allegedly failed to comply with, leading to a contempt plea in court last month.
- In July 2023, the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) was directed to act against 41 unauthorized buildings, with the court admonishing authorities for encouraging a "private mafia".
Systemic Failure and a Call for Accountability
The bench, headed by Justice Girish S Kulkarni, observed in October 2025 that a surge in related court cases was a direct result of inaction by civic bodies. The court remarked that "something fundamentally goes wrong" despite numerous judicial orders. This sentiment echoes a broader observation made in February 2022, following a tragic building collapse in Bhiwandi that killed at least 40 people.
In a suo motu PIL after that incident, a bench led by then Chief Justice Dipankar Datta described a "chaotic state of affairs". The court stated that the mushrooming of slums and illegal constructions on every piece of open land could have been prevented with proper vision and effective mass housing plans. It ordered monthly ward-wise reviews of unauthorized buildings and criminal action against errant officials, emphasizing that corruption within civic bodies must be tackled through anti-graft mechanisms.
The court's interventions come against the backdrop of prolonged administrative rule in several MMR cities, where civic body terms ended in 2022 and administrators have been in charge for 3-4 years, even as elections for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra are scheduled for January 15, 2026. The Bombay High Court's stance remains clear: civic authorities must enforce the law without delay to prevent further illegal construction and protect public safety.
