The court made this observation while hearing a suo-motu petition highlighting the condition of roads in the city, and the large number of potholes during monsoon
"I will just say the roads are bad, I don't feel happy travelling on the roads," Manjula Chellur, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, observed on Thursday, while appointing the Secretary of the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority (MALSA) as the nodal officer to receive complaints about potholes, and forward it to local bodies.
The court made this observation while hearing a suo-motu petition highlighting the condition of roads in the city, and the large number of potholes during monsoon. The bench said, "The civic body should feel ashamed that a committee, which has being set up to monitor road repairs is not able to do anything. We still receive complaints from citizens about potholes, not only in Mumbai, but across Maharashtra. We are compelled to appoint a 'super committee' to monitor this."
Referring to media reports about people dying in accidents due to potholes, the bench said, "How many more people will be killed before you repair roads?"
Anil Sakhare, Counsel for the corporation, and advocate Trupti Puranik informed the court that none of the reported deaths were in its jurisdiction. Accordingly, the court expanded the scope of the public interest litigation by asking the state to make all municipal corporations and councils in the state as parties.
Through an affidavit, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation informed the court about various steps being taken to immediately address citizens' grievances by setting up helpline numbers, among other initiative, as techniques used for filling up of potholes. It said that the continuous task to improve the condition of roads is being undertaken. Upgrading of roads is being done keeping in mind growing requirements of the city, the civic body stated.
The court has asked MALSA to publish a public notice in the local dailies informing the general public about the court order appointing its secretary as the nodal officer.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Potholes")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}