August 26, 2025: The Bombay High Court has issued stringent directions to all municipal corporations and planning authorities across Maharashtra, mandating immediate halts at construction sites found violating newly enforced safety norms for under-construction high-rise buildings.
A division bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Arif Doctor, in its order passed on Friday, stated: “Any breach of such measures or requirements in the report of the expert committee, shall be held to be violation of the building permission, and shall entail consequences of breach of such development permission, liable for all civil and criminal actions, as the law would mandate.”
The court’s directives follow concerns over frequent incidents of injuries and fatalities caused by falling debris from high-rise projects. On August 7, the bench appointed an expert safety committee, which submitted its report on August 12, titled “Special Safety Control Recommendations for Working at Heights During High Rise Construction.” The guidelines aim not only to safeguard workers but also residents and pedestrians in nearby areas, who often face risks from falling objects, construction debris, or malfunctioning equipment.
Highlighting lapses in safety compliance by builders, developers, and contractors despite the availability of advanced construction technologies, the court emphasized that the recommendations must be implemented in “letter and spirit” by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and incorporated into all building permissions.
Following the court’s order, the Urban Development Department (UDD) issued a notification on Friday instructing all civic bodies, councils, and metropolitan authorities to adopt and enforce the safety recommendations while granting development permissions.
The court further directed authorities to maintain a “special vigil” on high-rise construction sites. “In the event of any breach of such compliance, immediate action shall be initiated, including issuance of stop-work notices, as this would be paramount, considering the safety of human lives,” the bench concluded.
Source: Hindustan Times
