HC pulls up civic chief over BMC law dept

The Bombay High Court has once again sent a reminder to civic chief Ajoy Mehta that the BMC's law department is not functioning properly and timely assistance to the court for cases is not coming forth.

A division bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice MS Karnik, which had summoned Mehta to the court earlier, sent him its order, which stated, "We are sorry to state that despite the Municipal Commissioner being summoned to this court and the Municipal Commissioner assuring that there will be an improvement in the functioning of the Law Department of the corporation, there is no change."

The bench gave this direction while hearing a petition filed by M/s Pricecare Homes, challenging the objection raised by the civic body before granting permission to develop a property in Mahim.

Previously, while summoning Mehta, the court had asked him to explain why action should not be initiated against him for the corporation's casual approach in defending itself in legal matters. Mehta appeared in court and assured that things would improve. He blamed staff crunch for the delay in filing replies and affidavits.