The Bombay High Court has directed the Municipal Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to investigate the role of municipal officers who allegedly blessed the shop of paan, bidi and gutkha installed on the pavement outside a housing society in Mumbai. The court not only ordered the immediate removal of the unauthorized structure, but also directed the Municipal Commissioner to initiate an inquiry against the officials who did not take action against encroachment for more than six years.
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A bench of Justice GS Kulkarni and Justice Arif S. Doctor was hearing a petition filed by Nirvana Housing Society. The petition alleged that despite the demolition of illegal stalls by BMC in November 2019, it stood up again and operated without any valid license or permission. A inspection report on July 17, 2023 confirmed the existence of the stall, which did not have both health and business licenses.
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The BMC informed the court that a notice was issued to the stall operator on July 23, 2025 under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, which voluntarily was given 48 hours to remove the stall. If not complied, the municipal body said it would take action to demolish the stall. Although the stall owner presented his side through his legal lawyer, he failed to file a counter affidavit. The court considered it a silent acceptance of the illegal stalls.