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Mumbai: BMC chief Ashwini Bhide faced SC’s wrath for failing to clear illegal encroachments on government land reserved for a BEST bus station in Borivali East
Mumbai: BMC commissioner Ashwini Bhide. (File)
In a first in the history of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai civic chief Ashwini Bhide faced an explicit judicial salary freeze for failing to clear encroachments.
While the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court have routinely issued severe warnings, show-cause notices, and threats of imprisonment to Mumbai’s municipal chiefs over the years, the order to directly halt a sitting commissioner’s personal pay is unprecedented for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
WHAT SC SAID
Bhide faced the Supreme Court‘s wrath for failing to clear illegal encroachments on government land reserved for a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus station in Borivali East,Mumbai.
A three-judge bench—comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana—initiated strict contempt of court proceedings against her after the BMC failed to comply with multiple time-bound orders previously issued by the apex court.
The Supreme Court took severe measures during the hearing, including:
Withholding Salaries: The court ordered an immediate freeze on the November 2026 salaries of Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and her personal staff. The bench stated they would not draw salaries until they fully complied with the order.
At A Glance
Mumbai civic chief Ashwini Bhide faced an unprecedented judicial salary freeze by the Supreme Court for failing to clear illegal encroachments.
The Supreme Court imposed a ₹5 lakh penalty on the BMC and ordered an immediate freeze on November 2026 salaries for the commissioner and personal staff.
Following the court’s reprimand, the BMC completed a demolition drive removing 27 commercial structures from a 3,400-square-metre plot in Borivali East.
Ashwini Bhide was appointed as the first female Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on March 31, 2026.
Imposing a Fine: The Supreme Court slammed the BMC with a ₹5 lakh penalty for attempting to evade its directives.
Rejecting Extensions: The court flatly denied the BMC’s request for a 30-day extension to execute the evictions, telling the civic body to “sit in the midnight and pass the orders” to get the job done.
Suspecting Official Collusion: The bench expressed serious displeasure, noting that the delay appeared to be a “mischievous breach” carried out with the direct connivance, collusion, and support of municipal officers protecting the encroachers.
Following the severe reprimand from the top court, the BMC immediately swung into action and successfully completed the demolition drive, removing 27 commercial structures from the 3,400-square-metre Borivali plot.
WHAT MAKES SC ORDER UNIQUE
Typically, courts issue warnings or impose fines on the “civic body” (which is paid out of the municipal treasury). By freezing the personal November 2026 salaries of both Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and her immediate personal staff, the Supreme Court directly targeted the individuals in charge rather than the institution.
The Supreme Court Bench explicitly used the phrase “mischievous breach” to describe the delay, directly accusing the civic administration of actively colluding with encroachers.
WHO IS ASHWINI BIDE?
Ashwini Bhide is a high-profile senior officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) belonging to the 1995 batch (Maharashtra cadre). She is widely recognised for driving Mumbai’s mega-infrastructure projects and made history by becoming the first female Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Appointed on March 31, 2026, she took charge of the country’s wealthiest civic body, managing an annual budget of over ₹80,000 crore and a population of over 20 million people. She holds additional charge as the MD of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), returning to a role where she originally built her reputation.
Bhide earned the moniker “Metro Woman” for her decisive leadership in spearheading Mumbai’s first fully underground metro line—Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line)—connecting Colaba, Bandra, and SEEPZ. Despite intense political and environmental challenges during the early stages of the project, she was widely lauded for her firm execution capabilities, administrative efficiency, and hands-on governance. She also played a vital role in executing the Mumbai Coastal Road project during her time as Additional Municipal Commissioner.
Born in Sangli, Maharashtra, she topped the civil services examination among female candidates in 1995, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 9. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and an MBA. Over her three-decade career, she has held critical roles, including Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) under Devendra Fadnavis, and executive roles at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
DID OTHER BMC CHIEFS FACE STRINGENT ACTION LIKE THIS?
Ajoy Mehta (Municipal Commissioner from 2015 to 2019): In October 2016, the Bombay High Court issued a show-cause notice for civil and criminal contempt against him. he BMC regularised and sanctioned illegal constructions made by a corporator’s husband in Vile Parle West, directly violating judicial orders. The High Court dropped the contempt proceedings in January 2017 after the BMC revoked the regularization orders.
Iqbal Singh Chahal (Municipal Commissioner from 2020 to 2024): Faced a high-profile contempt petition and severe rebukes in the Bombay High Court. The civic body persistently failed to address Mumbai’s massive pothole crisis and unsecured open manholes, violating judicial directives dating back to 2018.
Sitaram Kunte (Municipal Commissioner from 2012 to 2015): Faced formal civil contempt proceedings in the Bombay High Court (Ishkrupa Cooperative Housing Society v. Sitaram Kunte). The civic administration failed to comply with specific court directives regarding land and plot allotments.
Praveen Pardeshi (Municipal Commissioner from 2019 to 2020): Named in civil contempt of court filings in the Bombay High Court. The BMC failed to adhere to judicial instructions regarding rehabilitation disputes and transit rent defaults for local housing redevelopments.
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November 04, 2026, 7:52 PM IST
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