In a sharp rebuke to bureaucratic delays, the Bombay High Court has ordered two senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials to pay a nominal cost of ₹11 each from their salaries for failing to act promptly on its directions to demolish an illegal mezzanine floor in a south Mumbai building.
A Division Bench of Justices Ravindra V. Ghuge and Abhay J. Mantri passed the order on February 9, 2026, while hearing a writ petition filed by Green Twig Estate Management Pvt Ltd, the owner of Kirti Chambers in Fort (A Ward).
The case stems from the landlord’s long-standing battle to remove an unauthorised mezzanine floor constructed by a tenant. Earlier proceedings revealed that despite court orders and BMC’s own decision dated August 10, 2024, to initiate demolition, the civic body dragged its feet.
On December 23 and 24, 2025, the High Court had directed the Assistant Commissioner (A Ward), Jaydeep More, to ensure compliance. When the matter came up again on January 30, 2026, for recording compliance, the court noticed the delay and asked BMC to initiate action against More.
During the hearing on February 9, BMC advocate Madhavi Nalluri produced the original file. It showed that the court’s December 24 order was sent to Mrs. Chanda Jadhav, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone-I), who signed it only on January 8, 2026 — after a 9-day delay. The file then moved to Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City), who took another 19 days to sign it on January 27, 2026.
Only Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani acted swiftly, directing a show-cause notice on January 28, which was issued on January 30.
The bench appreciated the prompt action by Commissioner Gagrani and the BMC counsel but pulled up the two senior officers for the avoidable delay. The judges noted that this was not an isolated incident — the corporation had shown a “casual” approach toward High Court orders in the past.
“We have recorded in our order dated 23rd December, 2025 that Municipal Corporations are taking the orders of the High Court casually,” the bench observed.
Considering initiating contempt proceedings, the court ultimately opted for a symbolic penalty to send a strong message.
“In order to ensure that the message goes out loud and clear to the Corporation that the orders of every Court should be acted upon with promptitude, we are imposing costs of Rs.11/- (Rs. Eleven only), to be paid by Mrs. Chanda Jadhav… and by Dr. Ashwini Joshi… from their respective salary accounts,” the order stated.
The amounts are to be deposited with the Kirtikar Law Library in the High Court premises within two days.
The petition has been disposed of but listed again on March 6, 2026, for recording full compliance.
The order has sparked discussion on social media and among legal circles, with many praising the court for using a token fine as a powerful deterrent against administrative lethargy in enforcing building regulations.
