BMC launches demolition drive hours after Supreme Court freezes commissioner's salary

Hours after the Supreme Court initiated contempt proceedings and ordered a freeze on salary disbursements to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Municipal Commissioner, civic authorities on Wednesday launched a massive early-morning demolition drive in Borivali. [Parag Construction (now Dube Constructions) v. Sandhya Nandedkar]

BMC officials began clearing unauthorised shops, shanties and commercial structures at 7 AM on November 4.

The land parcel had been earmarked for a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus depot and electrical substation. Civic officials indicated that the long-delayed eviction drive would clear the entire parcel within 24 hours.

The swift civic action follows sharp rebukes from a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.

On Tuesday, the Bench dismissed the Commissioner’s plea for an extension of time to clear the land, slapped ₹5 lakh in costs and halted the disbursement of salaries to the commissioner and staff pending the show-cause contempt proceedings.

“This is an absolutely mischievous breach of the directions of the Supreme Court, with the direct connivance and support of the encroachers,” CJI Kant remarked.

He warned that non-compliant officials would face imprisonment.

Justice Bagchi firmly directed that the commissioner would not draw any salary till compliance is complete

Litigation over the Borivali plot dates back to 1986. The top court directed the private developer in August 2025 to hand over 3,400 square metres to the BMC to make the facility functional within three months. However, persistent civic inaction prompted contempt petitions, triggering the sudden eviction push.