‘Will deal with it’: Bombay HC on Neville D’Souza ground conversion despite assurance

The High Court’s remark came after it was informed that the civic body had not followed its oral assurance to not take the final decision on the Neville D'Souza football ground.

3 min readUpdated: Aug 19, 2026 01:34 PM IST

neville d'souza football ground exibition centre bombay HC

Earlier, the BMC approved proposal to convert the Neville D'Souza football ground before the Bombay high Court stepped in. (Express Photo)

A day after the Mumbai civic body general body cleared a proposal to convert Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation into an exhibition or convention centre despite assuring no decision until the next hearing, the Bombay High Court said it would “deal with” the decision if it found the civic body’s action inappropriate in light of what was assured in the previous hearing.

The High Court’s remark came during a hearing on Wednesday after the Mumbai Football Association (MFA) informed it that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had not followed its oral assurance on the Neville D’Souza football ground.

On August 10, during the hearing of a plea by the football body, the BMC had orally assured the High Court that no final decision would be taken until the procedure was followed, which included seeking stakeholders’ suggestions and objections.

After the assurances, the High Court had posted the Neville D’Souza football ground conversion hearing to August 24. “So you (BMC) have some time; BMC is saying that they are not going to take a decision [till the next hearing],” the HC had orally remarked.

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View of Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra, Mumbai. (Express photos by Akash Patil)

However, a week before the hearing, the BMC cleared the proposal to change the reservation of the iconic Neville D’Souza football ground amid objections from the Opposition.

‘We will be dealing with it’: Bombay High Court

On Wednesday, August 19, senior advocate Zal Andhyarujina, representing the MFA, informed a bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam A Ankhad that despite the BMC’s assurances, its general body took a decision based on a recommendation of the civic improvements committee.

“We did not seek the BMC lawyer’s statement to be recorded. But there was an understanding,” the MFA said, seeking urgent relief against the general body’s decision.

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To this, acting CJ Ghuge said, “If we feel any decision was taken which is not appropriate as per what transpired on that day, we will be dealing with it.”

The football body’s plea sought interim protection against changes to the ground’s ‘physical or functional character’, removal of sporting infrastructure or steps towards an exhibition or convention centre.

It also challenged the improvement committee’s recommendation to change the reservation without planning, stakeholder consultation, user survey or feasibility assessment.

Omkar Gokhale

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

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