The order also allows the committee to hold physical or virtual meetings once a week initially, depending on the volume of work, and to conduct site visits or convene meetings at appropriate locations.
The Bombay High Court has constituted a high-powered committee comprising former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Amjad A Sayed and retired Bombay High Court Justice Anuja Prabhudessai to monitor and supervise compliance with earlier court directives aimed at curbing air pollution in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Justice Sayed served as a judge of the Bombay High Court for 15 years before being elevated as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2023.
The committee was formed following observations by a bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam A Ankhad, which noted that air pollution levels in Mumbai and surrounding areas had not declined and that there was “insufficient monitoring” by civic authorities. The bench took the decision on January 29, while the detailed order was made available on Tuesday.
The High Court has been hearing a suo motu public interest litigation along with other petitions initiated after taking note of multiple media reports, including The Indian Express series Death by Breath, which highlighted an “alarming scenario” of air pollution beginning in November 2023.
The committee will examine reports submitted by municipal commissioners and officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
It will also consider the findings of an advocates committee earlier appointed by the High Court to inspect construction sites in Mumbai and make recommendations to authorities.
The court directed that the committee’s recommendations should cover “immediate, medium term and longterm measures to combat and prevent air pollution in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including advising them on the formulation of a Graded Response Action Plan for Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.”
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The High Court said the committee may submit a preliminary report by March 5, followed by monthly reports, and may also suggest “additional measures to ensure effective compliance and reduction of pollution.”
The bench further stated that the committee “may seek inputs, as and when required,” from Virendra Sethi, Emeritus Fellow in Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay, and Dr Indu Khosla, a pediatric pulmonologist, and “may consult any other expert body if necessary.”
The order also allows the committee to hold physical or virtual meetings once a week initially, depending on the volume of work, and to conduct site visits or convene meetings at appropriate locations.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been directed to pay Rs 1 lakh per sitting to each committee member and to provide office space, a vehicle and secretarial assistance. The Deputy Municipal Commissioner for Environment has been designated as the nodal officer for coordination with the committee.
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Posting the matter for further hearing on March 5, the High Court cautioned, “Any failure to render assistance to High Power Committee or refusal or disobedience of any request, order, directions of the High Power Committee shall be treated as breach of this order and appropriate proceedings including contempt proceedings shall be initiated against the concerned persons.”
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
