"High Court Rebukes Mumbai Civic Authorities for Neglecting Road Maintenance, Summons Municipal Commissioners Over Pothole Issue
In a stern move, the Bombay High Court criticized the municipal authorities of Mumbai and its suburbs on Wednesday for their failure to uphold the state of roads in the city, contravening a 2018 court directive that demanded the same standards. The case, known as Ruju Thakker v. State of Maharashtra & Ors, saw petitioner Ruju Thakker accusing the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's civic bodies of showing contempt for the court's 2013 public interest litigation (PIL) concerning potholes.
The 2013 court order mandated all municipal corporations and the State government to maintain well-leveled streets, roads, and footpaths. Thakker presented recent images and media reports highlighting a surge in accidents, some of which have resulted in fatalities.
Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor, presiding over a Division Bench, expressed their disappointment in the corporations for the deteriorating road conditions, which were implicated in certain accidents. The Bench noted that there appeared to be a blatant disregard for the court's directions, emphasizing that these duties were not merely court orders, but statutory obligations.
The Bench drew attention to a December 7, 2022 ruling which held officers accountable for any deaths caused by road potholes or open manholes/drainage issues. As a result of this ruling, the court summoned the municipal commissioners of six major corporations in the Mumbai metropolitan region:
1. Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
2. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
3. Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation
4. Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation
5. Thane Municipal Corporation
6. Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation
Furthermore, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Commissioner, an office held by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, was also summoned by the court. These commissioners have been directed to appear in court on August 11 at 11:30 AM to provide explanations as to why they shouldn't be held liable for their failure to comply with and disobey the 2018 judgment."
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TAGS: Bombay High Court civic authorities Mumbai suburban regions road maintenance 2018 judgment Ruju Thakker v. State of Maharashtra & Ors contempt public interest litigation (PIL) potholes municipal corporations State government streets roads footpaths accidents Division Bench Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya Justice Arif Doctor poor road conditions statutory obligations December 7 2022 ruling accountable deaths open manholes drainage issues municipal commissioners corporations Mumbai metropolitan region Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation Thane Municipal Corporation Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Commissioner Chief Minister Eknath Shinde court appearance disobedience non-compliance explanations.
