Maharashtra
Bombay HC Slams BMC Over Powai Road Encroachments, Warns City Being ‘Surrendered’ To Illegal Structures
Mumbai, Feb 12: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over alleged inaction against encroachments on a key Powai road, remarking that the civic body appeared to be “surrendering Mumbai to encroachers” instead of keeping public roads clear.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri also slammed the civic body for “lack of will, desire and courage” to take action against the encroachers and asked what would become of Mumbai in the next two decades if illegal encroachments continued unchecked.
“If a stop is not put to this (illegal structures), in the future people would be forced to use only two-wheelers, bicycles or horses on roads which would be taken over by encroachers,” the court observed.
Petition over 90-foot road obstruction
The court was hearing a petition by Beaumont HFSI Pre-primary School in Powai and its principal Kalyani Patnai, which complained that a nearly 90-foot-wide road connecting several schools to the Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) had been encroached upon by hutments, toilets and other structures, severely obstructing pedestrians and motorists.
Senior advocate Naushad Engineer, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that repeated complaints to the BMC had yielded no concrete action. He alleged that the civic body had, in fact, installed toilets and supplied water to encroachers. “It was the BMC which went and installed toilets and is supplying water to these encroachers,” he argued, pointing to photographs on record.
Court questions civic resolve
Visibly displeased, the bench said: “Why don’t you (BMC) tell us that you don’t have the will, desire and courage to remove encroachers. Then we will record that Mumbai is surrendered to encroachers.”
Referring to the photographs, the court added that if the encroachments continued, “people will have to ride a bicycle” on what is meant to be a major road. “Everywhere, roads are left with only one or two lanes and then there are traffic jams. Cars cannot move — a person walks faster than such cars stuck in jams,” it remarked.
BMC advocate Dhruti Kapadia told the court that officials faced resistance and even attacks when attempting demolition drives. She sought two months’ time to clear the encroachments.
Warning of contempt action
The judges, however, criticised what they termed a pattern of appeasement. “When squatters realise that when they squat on a concrete road, BMC will give them a toilet… you are generous towards encroachers,” the bench observed, adding that the civic body was “in quicksand” of its own making. It added: “Isn’t the BMC promoting encroachments like this? This is a grim situation. If you stop giving them water and toilet facilities, they will move. But you have been giving them (facilities) on a platter.”
When informed that a movable toilet could not be removed, the bench reacted sharply: “This is a ‘firta shauchalay’ (moving toilet). It has to be put up on a truck and moved… You are promoting encroachment.”
Calling the situation “grim”, the court warned of strict consequences if timelines were not honoured. “This is the last chance… otherwise we will initiate suo motu contempt,” it said, likening the cycle of removal and reappearance of encroachments to a “Tom and Jerry show.”
The bench directed the deputy municipal commissioner concerned to remain present in court and file an affidavit stating a firm timeline for removal of the encroachments. It also ordered a senior police officer from the Powai area to be present to assist the court regarding protection during demolition.
The judges remarked that people have limited time on this planet and each person’s endeavour must be to keep the environment and the city in such a good condition that the next generation reaps its benefits. “Our next generation should not say we have been callous with our city,” it said.
Emphasising the broader public impact, the judges noted that heavy school traffic and daily commuting had been crippled. “We are more concerned with the hurt caused to people of Mumbai,” the bench said.
Maharashtra
UP gangster wanted under Gangster Act arrested from Mumbai, major police operation UP police sent accused to UP

Mumbai: Police has succeeded in arresting a gangster and gang leader from Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. He is residing here hiding his identity. Mumbai Police received information that he is hiding in Bay Hotel. After which Yellow Gate Police arrested gangster and gang leader Nishant Rajesh Singh (23), wanted in three cases in Sitapur. In the initial investigation, he tried to mislead the police, but later he told that he belongs to UP and later Mumbai Police contacted Uttar Pradesh Police and it came to know that he is wanted in three cases in Sitapur including theft, illegal weapons, Gangster Act, after which UP Police came to Mumbai today and took the accused into custody and took him to Uttar Pradesh. This operation was carried out by DCP Vijay Kant Sagar on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti.
Maharashtra
A very rare surgery: Rajawadi Hospital team successfully removes a 5.5 kg, 30 cm tumor from the uterus of a 46-year-old woman

A 46-year-old woman from Mankhurd, Mumbai, had been suffering from health problems like persistent abdominal swelling, abdominal pain and difficulty in breathing for the past two years. In view of these symptoms, she sought treatment at the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Gynaecology Department at BMC-run Seth Vadelal Chhatrapati Gandhi and Monji Amidas Vora Municipal General Hospital (Rajawadi Hospital) in Ghatkopar. The hospital team successfully removed a tumour weighing around 5.5 kg and measuring 30 cm from the patient’s uterus. As her symptoms worsened significantly, a comprehensive review of her medical history, physical examination and necessary diagnostic tests were conducted. These tests revealed a uterine tumour measuring around 30 cm. Initial diagnosis suggested that the mass was a ‘giant leiomyoma’ (fibroid). All necessary precautions and planning were taken to deal with possible complications during and after the surgery, and the procedure was performed later. Dr. Swadina B. Mohanty, Dr. Shalini Bagaria, Dr. Arva Kamble, and Dr. Kajal Salvi played a key role in the surgery performed by the Gynecology Department. Dr. Shreyash and Dr. Netra, under the guidance of anesthesiologist Dr. Chhavi, managed the anesthesia team. Additionally, surgical staff nurse Neelakshi Guru and her team provided vital support during the surgery. Due to the large size of the tumor and the extensive network of blood vessels, the surgery was performed with utmost care. The 5.5 kg tumor removed during the procedure has been sent for histopathological examination, and the final report is awaited. Post-surgery, the patient received specialized care and was discharged from the hospital on the fifth day in excellent health. Cases of such large uterine tumors are extremely rare.
Maharashtra
Immediate financial assistance and rehabilitation for the victims of the Bhiwandi Kohinoor building tragedy and strict action against the culprits. Abu Asim Azmi

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has written a letter to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, and Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Mukrandji Jadhav, appealing for justice for the victims of the tragic and serious incident of collapse of the four-storey Kohinoor building in Balaji Nagar area of Bhiwandi city. Through the letter, MLA Abu Asim Azmi has put forward important demands and issues, including raising questions about administrative negligence.
The Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation had earlier declared the building ‘extremely dangerous’ and issued a notice. Despite this, the administration failed to take timely and concrete steps to ensure the safe rehabilitation of the residents. Lives were lost due to administrative delay and negligence. Along with immediate assistance to the deceased and injured, he demanded that the government immediately provide financial assistance to the families of the citizens who lost their lives in the accident and ensure that all the injured are provided with the best medical treatment at government expense. Regarding the structural audit of the most dangerous buildings, Azmi said that a ‘structural audit’ of all the dilapidated and most dangerous buildings in Bhiwandi city should be conducted immediately, and arrangements for the temporary and permanent rehabilitation of their residents should be made without delay. Azmi has also demanded strict action against the guilty officials and has said that strict legal and administrative action should be taken against the officials responsible for this major accident and the negligence associated with it. Abu Asim Azmi has appealed to the government to take suo motu notice of the matter and ensure that justice and relief reach the affected families in Bhiwandi as soon as possible.
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