Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has come down heavily on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the growing garbage problem in Mumbai, warning civic officials that they will be held responsible if waste continues to pile up on the city’s streets.
During a hearing on Thursday, a bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale expressed serious concern over the condition of the city. The judges questioned the BMC’s functioning and said Mumbai was increasingly being seen with garbage and unclean surroundings.
The court made it clear that responsibility cannot simply remain with the civic administration as a whole. It said ward officers must be held accountable for cleanliness in their respective areas. Officials who fail to take action could face contempt proceedings, the court warned.
The bench also directed the BMC Commissioner to take steps to fix responsibility and ensure that complaints about garbage are acted upon instead of being left pending.
The issue came up during the hearing of a petition filed by residents of Kannamwar Nagar. The petition also raises concerns about pollution associated with the Kanjurmarg dumping ground.
The court questioned why garbage continues to remain at several locations despite the BMC being aware of the problem. The judges indicated that simply giving assurances would not be enough and that residents need to see actual improvement on the ground.
The court also suggested that the BMC look at involving social media influencers in cleanliness campaigns. The idea is to reach more people, particularly younger residents, and encourage them to take greater responsibility for keeping public spaces clean.
At the same time, the court stressed that responsibility does not lie only with the civic body. It suggested stronger action against people who throw waste on roads and other public places, including higher fines and criminal action wherever the law permits.
The BMC will now have to show what steps it has taken before the matter comes up again on October 7, 2026.
For Mumbai, the court’s warning has put the city’s long running garbage problem firmly back in the spotlight. The bigger question now is whether the latest directions will lead to visible change on the streets or remain another warning that fades away after the hearing.
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