The Bombay High Court has asked the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) what preventive measures they will take to stop new illegal constructions over the next three months, after the civic body said staff shortages could affect demolition drives during a period of special electoral revision work and upcoming festivals.
The question was raised during a hearing before a division bench comprising Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata. The hearing followed a contempt petition filed by advocate Kishor Shetty, who alleged that more than 4,000 illegal constructions in Navi Mumbai had not faced effective action from the municipal corporation and CIDCO.
Senior advocate Anil Anturkar, appearing for the municipal corporation, told the court that the demolition campaign could be affected for the next three months because personnel would be assigned to special intensive revision work and festival-related duties. The court took note of the submission but sought clarity on how newly emerging illegal structures would be prevented during this period.
The bench asked whether the civic authorities had prepared preventive measures to stop fresh illegal construction while demolition activity was likely to slow. The court’s questions put the focus not only on action against existing structures but also on the enforcement systems being used to prevent unauthorised construction from taking place.
The municipal corporation also submitted that the court’s continuing oversight had reduced political interference in demolition operations. It told the court that adequate police protection was now being made available during demolition drives as a result of court directions.
According to the submission recorded during the hearing, action had been taken against 25 additional illegal constructions up to September 7, 2026. The report did not provide details of the locations, nature or status of those structures.
The proceedings are part of continuing scrutiny of illegal construction in Navi Mumbai, where responsibility for planning, land development and enforcement involves both the municipal corporation and CIDCO. The court’s intervention has brought the question of preventive enforcement to the centre of the case as authorities prepare for a period when available personnel may be reduced.
The court has listed the matter for hearing again after three weeks. NMMC and CIDCO are expected to address the preventive measures they will adopt during the intervening three-month period.
