The Supreme Court of India has ordered an immediate freeze on the November salary of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. The drastic measure comes as the court initiated contempt proceedings against Bhide for her alleged willful disobedience of previous judicial directives regarding the removal of encroachments from government land in Borivali, Mumbai.
The land in question is specifically reserved for a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus station and has been the subject of prolonged litigation between the civic body and a private developer. A three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, observed that Commissioner Bhide had breached time-bound directions issued on November 13, 2025, and July 28, 2026.
Contempt Proceedings and Penalties
During a recent hearing, the Bench rejected the BMC's request for an additional 30 days to complete the eviction process. Furthermore, the court imposed costs of ₹5 lakh on the BMC for the delay. The Supreme Court also explicitly restrained the Maharashtra government and the BMC from releasing the salaries of Commissioner Bhide and her personal staff until its orders are fully implemented and the contempt notice is resolved.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi clarified that Bhide's salary would remain frozen until December 1, 2026, unless the court's directives were complied with sooner. The Chief Justice issued a stern warning, indicating that municipal officials could face imprisonment if the orders continued to be ignored.
Background of the Dispute
The legal saga began in August 2025, when the Supreme Court directed a private developer to hand over vacant possession of the land, including an administrative building, to the BMC. The civic body was then given three months to take possession, remove all remaining encroachments in accordance with the law, and make the bus station fully operational.
However, the land remained uncleared. In response, the court directed the Commissioner to file a personal affidavit detailing the occupants, eviction notices issued, and any pending tenancy or ownership claims. Despite these directives, the encroachments persisted, leading to the July 2026 order, which granted the BMC another three months to clear the site.
The court had also clarified that pending civil court proceedings challenging eviction notices under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, would not prevent the removal of encroachments, as no interim stay had been granted. During the latest hearing, the Bench questioned the persistent delays, even suggesting potential collusion between municipal officials and encroachers. The court also dismissed the BMC's argument that Marathi documents required English translation before the eviction exercise could proceed, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of the matter.