Overview
- A bench of Justices J. K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar disposed of a PIL challenging BMC’s move to involve private agencies for landscaping and long-term maintenance.
- The court reiterated that the reclaimed stretch cannot be used for any residential or commercial development now or in the future, citing its September 30, 2022 order.
- It clarified that the promenade and related reclaimed areas should ordinarily remain open to the public, with only limited restrictions for specific development or maintenance work.
- The petition targeted BMC’s December 19, 2024 EoI for a ‘volunteer agency’ and sought to block any appointment of Reliance Industries or Reliance Foundation for the role.
- The judges said any corporate entity may perform works only under BMC instructions, with no broad privatization or new policy mandated beyond existing orders and clearances.