Bombay High Court Directs PMC To Act On Pune’s Road Issues, Disposes PIL
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Pune, February 17, 2025: The Bombay High Court, led by Chief Justice and Justice Bharati Dangre, concluded PIL No. 88 of 2023, filed by Qaneez-E-Fatemah Sukhrani and Pushkar Kulkarni, issuing firm directives to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and State authorities. The petitioners, represented by Advocate Ronita Bhattacharya Bector, cited PMC’s persistent negligence in road maintenance despite previous court orders and expert panel recommendations.
Court’s Key Directives:
Civic Accountability: The court found PMC had breached citizens’ Fundamental Rights under Article 21, failing to address road issues.
Complaint Redressal: Ordered PMC to create a mechanism for citizen road complaints with time-bound resolutions.
Committee Operations: Directed RDRMC (Road Development and Road Maintenance Committee) to continue regular meetings, with Petitioner No.1 remaining on the panel.
Third-Party Audits: Mandated audits by COEP (College of Engineering Pune) and EIL (Engineers India Ltd).
Past Non-Compliance: Criticized PMC for ignoring orders from previous PILs (No. 111 of 2006 and No. 71 of 2013) and recommendations from the STAC (2013) and RDRMC (2016) reports.
Delayed Action and Missing Accountability:
The PIL, filed on April 12, 2024, exposed PMC’s violation of the MMC Act, 1949 (Sec. 63(18)) through unsafe, pothole-ridden roads. Despite reconstituting RDRMC on March 18, 2024, PMC held only four meetings, with an 8.5-month gap during the crucial monsoon season.
Petitioners flagged PMC’s failure to implement a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for accountability from Junior Engineers to Superintending Engineers, despite 2016 RDRMC recommendations. On January 2, 2025, PMC finally published a list of 57 engineer officers for direct citizen grievance reporting.
Call for Implementation and Oversight:
Petitioners urged immediate compliance with STAC and RDRMC reports and proposed an Oversight Committee with:
- One retired judge
- One advocate
- Two technical experts (from IIT Bombay and CIRT)
- Two citizen road experts
The High Court’s order highlights the urgency of addressing Pune’s chronic road issues and ensuring public safety. The petitioners pledge continued vigilance and further legal action if needed.
