December 23, 2025: The Bombay High Court has expressed serious concern over Mumbai’s deteriorating air quality and summoned the municipal commissioner and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) chief to appear in person while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation on the issue. The court questioned whether the Bandra East site selected for the proposed new High Court complex is contributing to the city’s worsening air quality.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad was reviewing a committee report on air pollution when it highlighted major violations at a government colony currently being demolished for the ₹4,000-crore High Court building. The inspection, conducted earlier this month across 36 locations, revealed serious lapses at the Bandra East site, including the absence of dust-control mechanisms, scattered debris, and unsafe storage of gas cylinders. Vehicles transporting construction waste were found to be uncovered, and there was no CCTV or sensor-based monitoring in place.
The report noted, “Demolition work is being carried out without any barricading or dust suppression. Debris is lying scattered, and vehicles transporting rubble are uncovered. Gas cylinders used for steel cutting are stored on pavements, posing safety hazards.”
The Bench also referred to its earlier observations, which pointed to widespread non-compliance with pollution-control norms across Mumbai. It recorded that “construction sites lacked sprinklers, smog guns, and proper barricading,” adding that even large infrastructure projects were flouting mandatory guidelines to control dust and particulate emissions.
Describing the situation as “a complete failure of enforcement,” the judges said responsibility must be fixed at the highest level, holding the heads of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and MPCB accountable. The Court had earlier directed strict adherence to measures such as water sprinkling, smog guns, and surveillance at construction sites, and had constituted a five-member committee to monitor compliance.
On December 15, the Court had voiced concern over Mumbai’s “toxic air,” noting that air quality index levels were consistently in the poor range. It had instructed civic authorities to submit a detailed compliance report and future action plan addressing construction dust, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution.
Stressing that demolition activities cannot aggravate Mumbai’s already “unhealthy” air quality, the Court said the matter will be taken up again on December 23.
