The Bombay High Court has issued a stern warning to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) over continued poor air quality in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. During a hearing on pollution control, the court expressed deep frustration at what it described as a “belligerent disregard” for its past orders on improving air quality and indicated it may stop the salaries of the civic commissioners — including the BMC chief — if meaningful action is not taken.
Court’s Frustration Over Lack of Progress
The bench, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman Shyam, pointed out that despite repeated directives, authorities have not done enough to enforce pollution mitigation measures effectively. The court noted that many of the pollution control steps, such as issuing notices to construction sites for violations, were taken only after court intervention rather than proactively by the municipal bodies.
“You are not living in some alien world. We are all breathing the same air,” the court remarked, underlining that civic officials — like ordinary citizens — are exposed to toxic air and must act with urgency. It warned that coercive measures, including suspending salaries, could be ordered if compliance continues to fall short.
What Triggered the Warning
The warning forms part of ongoing judicial scrutiny since 2023, when the High Court took suo motu notice of rising air pollution across Mumbai and nearby localities. In recent hearings, the court reviewed progress reports and found deficiencies in implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of anti-pollution norms, such as installation of air quality monitors at construction sites — a requirement many project sites have still not met.
Demand for Better Data and Compliance
The court has directed municipal authorities to submit detailed daily air quality sensor data for a period prior to November 2025 to assess the true state of pollution levels. It criticised affidavits submitted by authorities for lacking ward-wise specifics and failing to demonstrate genuine and sincere efforts to tackle the problem.
Implications of the Warning
While the current stance is a strong warning rather than an immediate order to halt pay, judges indicated that coercive action could be taken if there is continued non-compliance. This move underscores the judiciary’s willingness to consider personal accountability for civic officials in public health and environmental cases.
The matter has been posted for further hearing, with the court closely monitoring future compliance and enforcement levels.
