November 06, 2025: The Bombay High Court has come down heavily on the Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) for its failure to act against illegal constructions in the city, reprimanding officials for citing “many more important works of public nature” as an excuse for inaction.
A division bench of Justices G.S. Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe was hearing a plea filed by Nihal Ahmed Abdulla (64) and nine family members, who alleged that despite repeated complaints, the MMC failed to remove illegal structures erected on their land purchased in 1986. The petitioners said their father’s land had Non-Agricultural (NA) permission under the 1986 development plan.
In 2005, when they sought permission to construct a building, the MMC rejected the proposal, stating the plot was reserved for a police station and staff quarters. However, the civic body took no steps to acquire the land, leading the petitioners to argue that the reservation had lapsed. They further alleged that certain individuals, with the connivance of MMC officials, had encroached on the plot and built illegal structures. Multiple complaints between June and September 2021 yielded no response, prompting them to approach the High Court.
The petitioners pointed out that in an affidavit, MMC Commissioner Ravindra Seshrao Jadhav admitted the constructions were illegal but termed the issue a private dispute and claimed demolition would occur “within a reasonable time” based on manpower and police availability, adding that the corporation had “many more important works of public nature.”
Expressing strong displeasure, the bench remarked it was “surprising” that the MMC showed no urgency. “The MMC cannot shirk its responsibility by claiming other issues are of greater importance,” the judges said. “Municipal bodies are still to wake up from their deep slumber. We wonder what can be of more priority to MMC than the removal of these unauthorised constructions.”
The court directed the MMC to demolish the illegal structures within 30 days, seeking police protection if necessary.
Source: Hindustan Times
