The Supreme Court on Tuesday initiated contempt proceedings against Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide over the civic body’s failure to remove encroachments from land reserved for a BEST bus station in Borivali. The court also ordered the withholding of November salaries of the Commissioner and other concerned officials and imposed costs of Rs 5 lakh on the civic body.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued a show-cause notice to Bhide, seeking an explanation for the non-compliance with its earlier directions. The bench also rejected the BMC’s request for an additional 30 days to complete the eviction process.
Justice Bagchi made it clear that the officials would not receive their salaries until the court’s notice was decided and its directions implemented.
“You will not be drawing a salary till the 1st of December 2026. So comply before that. You come here and then you can draw your salary,” said Justice Bagchi.
The bench expressed serious concern over the conduct of civic officials, questioning whether there was an understanding between municipal officers and those occupying the land illegally.
“Does it not show that your officers are colluding? We will send him to jail and then he will understand the sanctity of the Supreme Court order. Is he obliging us?” CJI Surya Kant remarked.
Describing the continued non-compliance as deliberate, the Chief Justice said, “This is an absolutely mischievous breach of the directions of the Supreme Court, with the direct connivance and support of the encroachers. If you want us, we can write all of this in the order itself,” he said.
The court refused to grant any further extension, with the CJI stating, “We are very clear that we are dismissing the application and we will not grant a single day’s extension. Let them sit in the midnight and pass the orders. Let them know how to work,” CJI Kant said.
The bench also questioned the BMC’s explanation that Marathi documents required English translation before officials could proceed with the eviction.
The dispute concerns a Borivali plot earmarked for a public BEST bus station and involving a prolonged legal battle between the civic body and a private developer.
In August 2025, the Supreme Court directed the developer to hand over vacant possession of the property, including an administrative building, to the BMC. The civic body was given three months to take possession, remove encroachments legally and make the bus station operational.
Despite subsequent directions requiring Bhide to submit a personal affidavit detailing occupants, eviction notices and ownership or tenancy claims, the encroachments remained uncleared, leading to the latest contempt proceedings.
Source: India Today
