Summary: The Bombay High Court ruled in favor of six tenants, protecting their homes from demolition by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC).
On January 5, 2026, Judge Milind N. Jadhav of the Bombay High Court made an important decision involving six tenants from Rakhmabai Mhatre Chawl in Mulund East, Mumbai. These tenants, including Anita Ashok Mapuskar, challenged the BMC's demolition notices issued on March 15, 2025, under the state planning laws.
The BMC sent notices claiming illegal construction, telling the tenants to fix or remove changes made to their homes. These homes, built in the 1950s, were said to be illegal by the BMC, even though tenants had lived there for decades.
"The notices were unclear and didn't have specific details about the supposed illegal constructions," said Judge Jadhav.
The tenants, represented by Mr. Amit Ashok Gharte, argued that their homes were there long before the BMC's claims. They showed strong evidence, including ration cards, property tax bills, and voter lists, proving they had lived there since the 1980s.
Judge Jadhav found the BMC's actions to be dishonest and an abuse of power. The court stressed that the tenants' rights were transferred to a new landlord in 2013, and the BMC's notices were inconsistent and unfair.
"The buildings have existed for over sixty years, and the BMC's actions are clearly not justified," the judgment stated.
The court canceled the BMC's temporary orders dated May 19, 2025, ensuring no forceful action would be taken against the tenants until the legal case was resolved.
The court's decision ensures that the tenants of Rakhmabai Mhatre Chawl can continue to live in their homes without fear of unjust demolition.
