Bombay High Court
Rashmi Shah ThakkarversusMunicipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The court declined to grant mandamus and disposed the writ petition, directing the pending BMC complaint to be resolved within three months.
Summary
The petitioners sought mandamus directing the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC) to act under Section 354 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, to evacuate occupants and demolish a dilapidated building called Rashmi Kunj, and to consider their redevelopment proposal. The petition also alleged that the building posed a serious public safety risk. The court noted that a complaint regarding the building was already pending before the BMC and that the parties' substantive rights over the property should be determined by a civil court. Without adjudicating the merits, the court ordered the BMC to resolve the pending complaint expeditiously, preferably within three months, after giving all stakeholders a hearing. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed without any substantive order on the merits.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court can issue a writ of mandamus directing the BMC to take action under Section 354 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, concerning a dangerous building.
- Whether the petitioners are entitled to an order for evacuation and demolition of the building on grounds of public safety.
- Whether the court should entertain the petitioners' redevelopment proposal in lieu of the pending civil dispute over title and rights.
Legislation cited
Subjects
- mandamus
- municipal corporation
- dangerous building
- demolition
- public safety
- redevelopment
- Section 354
- Bombay High Court
- writ petition
Judgment
PDP 908-WP-2734-2026.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 2734 OF 2026
Rashmi Shah Thakkar & Anr. .. Petitioners
Vs.
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
& Ors. .. Respondents
...
Ms. Fatima Barodawala a/w Suvarna Jadhav for Petitioners.
Ms. K. H. Mastakar for Respondent Nos.1 to 4 – BMC.
Smt. Fatima R. Lakadawala, AGP for Respondent Nos.5 and 6 – State.
Mr. J. M. D’Silva with Jacqline D’Silva for Respondent Nos. 7 to 22.
Mr. Virendra Tiwari (through V.C.) for Respondent Nos.23 to 25.
...
CORAM : MAHESH CHANDRA TRIPATHI, CJ. &
ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.
DATE : 24th SEPTEMBER, 2026.
P.C. :
1. Heard the learned Counsel for the parties.
2. By the instant Writ Petition, the Petitioners, inter alia,
praying for the following substantive reliefs :-
“a. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other
appropriate writ, order or direction directing
Respondent Nos.1 to 4 to forthwith take appropriate
action under the provisions of the Mumbai Municipal
Corporation Act, 1888, including under Section 354
thereof, in respect of the said building known as
Rashmi Kunj, being a dangerous and dilapidated
structure.
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PDP 908-WP-2734-2026.doc
b. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other
appropriate writ, order or direction directing
Respondent Nos.1 to 4 to forthwith evacuate all persons
in occupation and/or possession of the premises in the
said building and to take consequential steps, including
demolition of the said building, in the interest of public
safety.
c. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other
appropriate writ, order or direction directing
Respondent Nos.1 to 4 to consider and process the
Petitioners’ building/redevelopment proposal in respect
of the said property in accordance with law, and not to
reject the same solely on the ground of non-cooperation
or absence of consent/no-objection from Respondent
Nos.21 to 23, subject to the rights and contentions of all
parties, and, upon evacuation of the said building, to
consider granting the requisite permissions and
approvals to the Petitioners for redevelopment in
accordance with law, including IOD, commencement
permissions, utilization and/or purchase of
transferable development rights, and all consequential
or incidental approvals.”
2. What we find that the Petitioners claim certain rights over
the property in question. However, the counter claim has also been
submitted by the private Respondents. As in the instant proceeding,
the entire claim is set up that the subject building is inhabitable, in
dilapidated condition and at any point of time some untoward
incident is likely to occur. A Complaint by the Petitioners is already
moved before the Respondent Nos.1 to 4-BMC, which is said to be
pending consideration.
3. At present, we are not inclined to advert on merits qua the
rights of the parties. We leave it open to the parties to press qua the
title, right and interest over the subject property before the competent
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PDP 908-WP-2734-2026.doc
Civil Court. However, as the grievance/complaint of the Petitioners,
which is stated to be pending before the Respondent Nos.1 to 4- BMC,
we expect the same may be redressed in accordance with law
expeditiously, preferably within three months from the date of
uploading of this Order, but certainly after giving sufficient
opportunity of hearing to all stakeholders.
4 With the aforesaid directions, the Writ Petition is Disposed
Of.
5. Needless to state, we have not adverted into the merits of
the matter and all contentions of the parties are kept open.
[ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.] [CHIEF JUSTICE]
Digitally signed
by PRAVIN
PRAVIN DASHARATH
DASHARATH PANDIT
PANDIT Date:
2026.09.24
16:11:12 +0530
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