Why did Supreme Court freeze Mumbai civic commissioner's salary, impose ₹5 lakh fine on BMC?

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for failing to comply with its directions on removal of encroachments from land reserved for a BEST bus stand in Mumbai. Calling it a “wilful breach and disobedience of the time-bound directions”, the apex court issued a contempt notice against the civic body's commissioner and also imposed a penalty of ₹5 lakh on the municipal body, according to a report by LiveLaw.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana issued a notice asking the commissioner to explain why action should not be taken against him.

The bench also dismissed the commissioner's request seeking more time and directed the BMC and the Maharashtra government not to release the commissioner's monthly salary or the salaries of his personal staff until its orders are followed.

We are prima facie satisfied that the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is guilty of committing contempt and is guilty of wilful breach and disobedience of the time-bound directions that we have issued on two occasions in orders dated 13th November 2025 and 28th July 2026.