Mumbai potholes: Bombay High Court summons six municipal commissioners over poor roads

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday admonished the civic authorities of Mumbai and surrounding suburban regions for not maintaining levelled and surfaced roads in the city, in violation of its 2018 judgment calling for the same. [Ruju Thakker v. State of Maharashtra & Ors]..Petitioner Ruju Thakker claimed that the civic authorities of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region were in contempt of the order of the High Court passed in a 2013 public interest litigation (PIL) pertaining to the issue of potholes.In that order, all the municipal corporations and the State government were directed to maintain streets and roads, including footpaths, in good and proper condition.Thakker showed the Court recent photographs and news reports about rising accidents taking place on the roads, sometimes causing death..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor was miffed at the corporations for the poor condition of the roads, which could be the cause of some accidents.“There is a clear contempt. Does it happen every monsoon? These directions (in the 2018 judgment) are not by the court, these are duties cast by the legislation. It is 5 years now, and you have not been able to remove potholes. 5 years is not enough to put out potholes! A survey takes 15 days. Unless officers are made personally liable...” the Bench observed..The Bench referred to another order of December 7, 2022 which ruled that if any death is caused due to potholes on roads or open manholes/ drainage, the concerned officers will be held responsible. It thus summoned the municipal commissioners of the following six corporations across the Mumbai metropolitan region:Municipal Corporation of Greater MumbaiNavi Mumbai Municipal CorporationKalyan Dombivali Municipal CorporationVasai Virar Municipal CorporationThane Municipal Corporation, andMira Bhayander Municipal CorporationThe Court also summoned the Commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), whose Chairman is Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. .These commissioners were directed to remain present in court on August 11 at 11:30 AM to explain why they should not be made liable for disobedience and non-compliance of the 2018 judgment. .[Read order]