Has BMC been sleeping for 34 yrs? HC on Jaslok’s bill

The Bombay high court on Monday asked the civic body to recalculate the whopping water bill it had issued to Jaslok hospital in 2007, stating that the charges for water used for central air conditioning are different from those levied on the regular water connection. HT reports.

The Bombay high court on Monday asked the civic body to recalculate the whopping water bill it had issued to Jaslok hospital in 2007, stating that the charges for water used for central air conditioning are different from those levied on the regular water connection.

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The court had earlier asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to explain the provision under which it has charged Jaslok Rs63,43,470 after almost 34 complaint-free years for “misusing” water.

A division bench headed by justice AM Khanwilkar asked the BMC to file an affidavit explaining the provisions.

In April 2007, the BMC had sent a notice to the hospital demanding the money alleging that the hospital had misused water.

The corporation contended that water was given to the hospital at cheaper rates for common use, not for air-conditioning, which is chargeable at a higher rate. Subsequently, the corporation brought down the bill to Rs. 37 lakh. Meanwhile, the hospital moved the high court challenging the BMC’s notice.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Naina Pardeshi said the corporation was well aware about the centralised cooling system.

“We were not aware of the separate water charges for cooling until the bill was served in 2007,” Pardeshi said. “We have been paying the amended charges since.”

“Have your officers been sleeping since 1973?” justice Khanwilkar asked the BMC counsel.

The court has now adjourned the hearing asking the BMC to ascertain the amount as per the corporation’s own rule which had been brought to the court’s notice.