Close down BMC, let pvt persons run it: High Court

Pointing out that 60% of cases landed up in court because of the civic body’s inaction, the Bombay High Court on Thursday said the Brihanmumbai Muni-cipal Corporation (BMC) should be “closed down” and “private persons” allowed to run it.

Pointing out that 60% of cases landed up in court because of the civic body’s inaction, the Bombay High Court on Thursday said the Brihanmumbai Muni-cipal Corporation (BMC) should be “closed down” and “private persons” allowed to run it.

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A division bench of justice PB Majmudar and justice Amjad Sayed said this during the hearing on a petition filed by a BMC engineer, Ravindra Tripathi, challenging the civic body’s decision of suspending him for 16 months, then revoking the suspension and ordering a departmental inquiry. He has also challenged non-payment of salary after he resumed duty in March 2010.

On the issue of salary, justice Majmudar said, “You cannot stop it.” When the BMC advocate and civic officials present in court were unable to offer a satisfactory explanation, the judge said, “The court is burdened unnecessarily with such cases. 60% of matters come to court because the corporation takes no action. It is a sorry state of affairs.”