Be ready to pay victims: High Court rap to Mumbai civic body over potholes

Mumbai,UPDATED: Sep 12, 2025 23:39 IST

The Bombay High Court on Friday came down heavily on the civic bodies in Maharashtra, as well as authorities like the Public Works Department (PWD) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and others, for pothole deaths and injuries caused to people due to accidents while navigating bad roads.

"How much compensation will you pay for the deaths and injuries due to your negligence?" the court asked.

Advocate Ruju Thakkar, who had intervened in the suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on potholes, cited media reports highlighting five deaths in the last two months on pothole-ridden roads. She said that there have been three deaths in Bhiwandi, one in Kalyan and another in Powai area of Mumbai.

Thakkar highlighted severe negligence by authorities, noting that while they claim to fill potholes upon receiving complaints, in reality, the work is never carried out. She further pointed out that the Mumbai civic corporation had set April 30 as the deadline for the concretisation of all city roads, but the work remains incomplete well past the date.

Advocate Jamshed Mistry, who has been appointed as Amicus curiae in the case, said that there are people who have suffered injuries who also need to be compensated for their loss of livelihood and medical expenses after accidents.

Reviewing the photographs submitted by Thakkar, the bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh Patil remarked, "These are not potholes, these are craters," while directing authorities to take responsibility for deaths and injuries and compensate the victims.

The bench, in anguish, wondered how roads that once lasted decades now develop craters after just one spell of rain.

The bench asked, "What prompt action has been taken to cover up these craters?"

"It is for everyone to see. Sorry, but unless you have put a blindfold on your eyes, how can anyone say that there are no potholes and the corporation is doing their work?," the court further asked.

"Somebody in the family dies then livelihood of the entire family is effected. The bread winner has died due to negligence. Be well-prepared, be ready to pay compensation," the bench added.

The bench said that chief engineers of corporations where the deaths occurred must be held liable for the poor condition of roads. However, lawyers representing some corporations argued that the roads in question did not fall under their jurisdiction but under the state’s Road Department. Most lawyers sought time to clarify the issue, which irked the bench. It observed that given the fatalities and the matter being listed for hearing on Friday morning, the lawyers should have taken instructions and come prepared.

"This shows the seriousness with which you are taking these issues," said the bench.

The bench directed the State to provide data of all the fatalities and injuries suffered by people while navigating pothole ridden roads and directed the Corporations and Road authorities to state what compensation would be given to people.

The bench will again hear the issue on September 18, when the authorities have to answer the queries.

- Ends

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