Contempt notice against BMC Commissioner, salary withheld and fine imposed

According to reports by NDTV, Mint and Dainik Bhaskar, the troubles of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide in Mumbai have increased. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court initiated contempt of court proceedings against the BMC Commissioner and issued a show-cause notice to her. This action has been taken for failing to comply with the order to remove encroachment from the land designated for the BEST bus stand.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana gave this order. The court has asked the Commissioner why appropriate action should not be taken against her. The Supreme Court has also imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh on the BMC and dismissed the plea. At the same time, it has directed the BMC and the Maharashtra government not to release the monthly salary of the Commissioner or her personal staff until the orders are complied with.

Making a strict remark, the court stated that the Municipal Corporation Commissioner is guilty of contempt and has deliberately violated the time-bound orders delivered on 13th November 2025 and 28th July 2026. The court dismissed the BMC's plea seeking more time and clarified that not even a single day of extra time will be given.

In this matter, the Supreme Court also questioned the policy of BMC officials. Making a verbal remark, Chief Justice Surya Kant stated whether BMC officials have colluded with the encroachers? Does this not prove that there is connivance of the officials? The CJI warned that if the officials do not understand simple language, they will be sent to jail, then they will understand the value of the court's order.

This entire dispute is related to the land of a public BEST bus station in Borivali, Mumbai. A legal battle had been going on for a long time between the BMC and a private developer regarding this land. Earlier on 13th August 2025, the Supreme Court had directed the private developer to hand over the vacant and peaceful possession of the concerned plot, including the administrative building, to the BMC. This land was spread over an area of 3,400 square metres. The court had given three months' time to the BMC to take possession of the land, remove the remaining encroachment as per law and make the bus station fully operational.

Subsequently, on 28th July 2026, the Supreme Court again directed the BMC to complete this work and remove the encroachments in three months. The court had clarified that the civil court proceedings against the notices under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 will not pose any obstacle in removing the encroachment, as the civil court has not imposed any interim stay.

During Tuesday's hearing, senior advocate R.P. Bhatt, appearing for the BMC, repeatedly tried to assure the court that the civic body would comply with the orders within 30 days. Sarcastic about this, Chief Justice Surya Kant said that if they comply with the order, the court will give them an appreciation certificate. The court also said that this is a complete, deliberate and mischievous breach and the officials are protecting the encroachers.

During the hearing, an argument was made from the BMC's side that local officials need to get Marathi documents translated into English before the encroachment removal operation. Expressing heavy anger over this argument, the court questioned it. Justice Bagchi asked whether Dr. Tambe, the official who filed the affidavit, does not know the Marathi language, should the court assume that?

For the time being, the court has ordered the withholding of the salary of the Commissioner and her personal staff and indicated taking stricter steps in this matter in the near future.