Maharashtra
Supreme Court dismisses PIL seeking direction to designate BMC as sole planning authority for Mumbai
New Delhi, Dec 16: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to the Urban Development Department of Maharashtra government to designate BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) as the sole and centralised planning and sanctioning authority for the city of Mumbai.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the petitioner, Earth, a non-government organisation, to approach the Bombay High Court.
Sensing the disclination of the apex court to entertain the plea, the petitioner’s counsel sought liberty to withdraw the PIL. Ultimately, the matter was dismissed as withdrawn by the apex court.
The PIL said that Section 40 of the Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, which empowers the state government to appoint a Special Planning Authority (SPA) for notified areas, was enacted before the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, effective June 1993.
“This amendment introduced Part IXA, titled ‘The Municipalities’ (Articles 243P to 243ZG along with Twelfth Schedule), establishing the framework for the constitution, composition, and responsibilities of Municipalities. However, Section 40 was not amended to explicitly define the roles, powers, and functions of a SPA concerning matters outlined in Schedule XII,” the plea added.
Despite this lack of clarity, the Urban Development Department proceeded to appoint multiple SPAs, which diluted the planning and sanctioning powers of BMC, contented the petition, adding that “this ambiguity has adversely affected BMC’s ability to address key issues in Schedule XII, including urban planning, land use regulation, building construction, road and bridge maintenance, and slum improvement”.
The PIL, filed through advocate Dilip Annasaheb Taur, said that the approach has hindered urban development and limited citizens’ access to amenities due to a lack of transparency and consistency in the approval processes of the SPAs, the transfer of public amenities, and the execution of the 18 responsibilities outlined in the Schedule XII.
“The insufficient transparency in transferring amenities to the BMC obstructs effective urban planning and negatively impacts residents, depriving them of essential services and facilities,” it said.
The BMC established under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888 (MMC Act), serves as both the governing civic body and the planning authority for Mumbai in accordance with the MRTP Act, 1966.
The petition said that the existence of multiple planning authorities (without a clear delineation of duties) has led to certain operational inefficiencies, and the planning and sanctioning process of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) is laced with “major deficiencies”.
Mumbai: Anti-Narcotics Cell ANC claims to have seized drugs worth Rs 1.45 crore in various operations in Mumbai city. In four operations in Worli, Wadi Bunder, Wadala areas, ANC has seized 541 grams of MD, while 203 grams of MD has been seized from the possession of two accused and a case has been registered against them in Bandra unit under the NDPS Act.
During a patrol in Worli, Mumbai, 86 grams of MD was found from a suspect who was arrested. Ghatkopar unit has recovered 75 grams of MD while conducting an operation in Wadi Bunder and has arrested the accused. Similarly, Kandivali unit has seized 78 grams of drugs while conducting an operation in Wadala and has arrested him. Ghatkopar Mankhord has seized 840 bottles of codeine syrup during an operation on codeine syrup.
Mumbai: Mumbai Police’s Tilak Nagar police have claimed to have arrested three thieves and chain snatchers. The complainant said that on April 12, during a morning walk, three unknown thieves snatched a chain and fled. Tilak Nagar police had formed four teams in this case and conducted a search operation at various places in this case and arrested three accused Mohammad Jalil Khan, Sameer Mohammad Ansar Ahmed Sheikh and Mohammad Naseeb. A gold chain worth Rs 40,000 and a car worth Rs 3.40 lakh have also been seized from their possession. Cases of theft including chain snatching have been registered against these accused in the limits of Wadala TT police station. Further investigation is underway in this case after the arrest.
Mumbai: Film actor Salman Khan has once again received a death threat. Salman Khan is being targeted by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and the Lawrence gang has also threatened to kill Salman, after which Salman Khan is continuously receiving death threats on social media. The Mumbai Traffic Control Room received a WhatsApp message in which Salman Khan has been threatened to enter his house and kill him and blow up his car with a bomb. After receiving this threatening message, the Worli Police has registered a case of threat against an unknown person on the complaint of the Traffic Police.
Mumbai Police is now investigating whether the person who threatened Salman Khan belongs to a gang or if this threat was made by someone mischievously. The police are also on alert after the threatening message. Tight security arrangements have been made near Salman Khan’s house, along with which Salman Khan also has V-Plus security. In such a situation, the police have also taken this threat seriously.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Panchalkar has also ordered the police to be alert regarding threatening phone calls, WhatsApp or threatening messages on social media. The Mumbai Police and the Crime Branch are also investigating this matter. Salman Khan’s life is in danger, so the police do not want to take any kind of negligence and the police have also started an investigation in this matter. Salman Khan has received death threats several times before. The police have also arrested three people in this case.
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