Nagpur: In a scathing rebuke to civic authorities, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has lashed out at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), calling for the removal of non-performing anti-encroachment staff and exposing what it termed as blatant administrative failure.
Hearing two long-pending PILs filed by Dhantoli Nagrik Mandal, a division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Raj Wakode did not mince words. “Non-performing staff should be removed from service and sent home,” the court said, clearly frustrated with the continued inaction despite repeated directives over the years.
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The bench questioned the very existence and effectiveness of the so-called anti-encroachment squads. “They are said to be functioning, but what action have they taken?” the court asked sharply, directing the NMC to furnish detailed records of action taken against encroachments, along with the expenditure incurred on salaries of such staff.
The court came down heavily after observing that key areas such as Dhantoli, Ramdaspeth, Khamla, and Umred Road continue to remain choked with illegal encroachments. In a damning observation, the bench noted that in several locations, permanent structures have come up on roads and footpaths, a glaring indication of administrative apathy and enforcement collapse.
Expressing strong displeasure, the court pointed out that the matter has been dragging on for 16 years with little to no meaningful compliance. “Every time, we are required to repeat the same orders,” the bench remarked, highlighting what appears to be a cycle of negligence and disregard for judicial authority.
Taking serious note of a court-appointed committee’s findings based on ground inspections, the bench directed the civic body to respond to its recommendations. These include urgent measures such as designated ambulance parking zones in Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth to ease hospital congestion.
The committee has also suggested involving traffic experts, conducting advanced LiDAR-based surveys, introducing paid parking systems, and implementing one-way traffic in heavily congested areas. Additionally, the court has demanded details of funds spent on so-called city beautification projects, linking it to a related hoardings case, a move that signals deeper scrutiny of civic spending.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 4, with the court making it clear that continued non-compliance will not be tolerated.
Advocates Ashutosh Dharmadhikari and Ashwin Deshpande represented the petitioners, while the State and NMC were represented by AGP Deepak Thakare and Advocate Gemini Kasat, respectively.
The message from the High Court is loud and unmistakable: act now, or face consequences.
