Why did the Supreme Court freeze the salary of the Mumbai civic commissioner and slap a fine of ₹5 crore on the BMC? | Today’s news
The Supreme Court on Tuesday impeached the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) municipal commissioner for not following its directions regarding the removal of encroachments from land reserved for the BEST bus stand in Mumbai. Describing it as “willful violation and disobedience of time-bound directions”, the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice against the commissioner of the civic body and also imposed a penalty ₹5 lakh per municipal body, according to a LiveLaw report.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohan issued a summons asking the commissioner to explain why action should not be taken against him.
The bench also rejected the commissioner’s request for more time and directed the BMC and the Maharashtra government not to release the commissioner’s monthly salary or the salaries of his personal staff until its orders are complied with.
“We are prima facie satisfied that the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has been guilty of committing contempt and willfully violating and disobeying the time-bound directions issued by us twice in orders dated November 13, 2025 and July 28, 2026. Let him not show cause and effect for the Government to take appropriate action against him. delayed from releasing any monthly salary to the Commissioner or his personal staff, the application is dismissed with costs of Rs 5 crore,” LiveLaw quoted the court as saying.
The Supreme Court criticized the civic body’s action for not following its order. The court issued directions on November 13, 2025, and again on July 28, 2026.
Supreme Court warns BMC officials against jail for removing encroachments
CJI Kant strongly criticized the conduct of the civic body officials and suggested that the municipal body could collude with the attackers and warned that the officials could be sent to jail if the orders were not followed.
“They will understand the language of this order because they do not understand decent language. We will send him to jail and then he will understand the language of the Supreme Court order,” the CJI remarked after dictating the order.
Senior advocate RP Bhatt, appearing for the BMC, repeatedly urged the Supreme Court to record its assurance that the civic body would comply with its directions within 30 days. In response, the CJI sarcastically remarked that the court would issue a recognition certificate to the BMC if it complied with the orders.
“We will be very grateful if they comply with our order. We will issue them a letter of thanks! Let them do it first. There has been a complete, willful, malicious violation of the order issued by this court. And it is clearly in collusion and in connivance with the invaders that these municipal authorities are protecting. You want us to write it today or we will write it at 20,500,000. lakhs… Nothing We have already issued instructions.
What did Supreme Court order BMC?
On 28 July 2026, the Supreme Court directed the BMC to complete the work and remove the encroachments within three months. The court also clarified that the pending civil court proceedings challenging the notices issued to the squatters under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 would not prevent their removal as the civil court had not granted temporary stay.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected the civil body’s request to extend the deadline for removing the encroachments.
“We have given enough time. If you don’t want us to pass a more punitive order against them today ourselves. We are clear. We reject your request. We will not give even one day. Let them sit at midnight and pass the order. They have to learn how to work,” the CJI said.
