The Bombay High Court (HC) on Friday, August 16, raised concerns over the situation of slum dwellers in the city, particularly those exploited by private developers. The court stressed the need to make Mumbai a slum-free city.
Judges G. S. Kulkarni and Somasekhar Sunderesan presided over the case. They pointed out the city's international standing as the nation’s financial center. They claimed that to maintain this status, the city should be completely free of slums.
The court noted that the Maharashtra Slum Area Act is important in achieving this goal. The court further said that the government has the authority and responsibility to enforce it. The bench was recently formed following a Supreme Court (SC) directive to conduct a performance audit of the Maharashtra Slum Area Act.
The top court stressed the importance of sustainable development and expressed worries about the future of the city. It questioned whether Mumbai would only consist of skyscrapers in the coming century.
The court took the example of international cities like London to show the necessity of open spaces. During the hearing, the court also expressed concerns about the quality and delays in slum rehabilitation projects. It highlighted the plight of slum dwellers, who are often at the mercy of developers with private interests.
The judges criticised the Slum Rehabilitation Authority and the government for not taking sufficient action to prevent such exploitation. The court stressed that developers must be held accountable. It noted that the Act was not intended for projects to be left unfinished or for substandard work.
The judges insisted that the construction, care, and maintenance of rehabilitation projects must meet the highest standards. They said that buildings should not need renovations within a short period, and they should have a good standard of living.
The court also recommended that the government consider a tenancy or rental housing policy for migrant workers. It questioned the feasibility of Mumbai functioning without foreign labourers.
The apex court had earlier requested that the Bombay High Court initiate suo motu proceedings to audit the performance of the state’s slum redevelopment law. The court noted that over 1,600 cases related to the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act are currently pending before it.
The bench scheduled the next hearing for September 20 and requested that the government, Slum Rehabilitation Authority, and other relevant parties submit their affidavits by that date.
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