Removed All Bollards From Entrance Of Footpaths: BMC Tells Bombay HC In Suo Motu PIL On Footpath Access For Differently Abled Persons

In 2023, the Court took suo moto cognisance based on an email sent to advocate Jamshed Mistry by Karan Sunil Shah, a wheelchair user since birth, who raised concerns about the installation of bollards at footpath entrances across Mumbai. The Court purused the photos accompanying Shah's email which illustrated the impediments posed by closely spaced bollards at the entrance of the footpaths.

Back in February 2024, the BMC had informed the Court that it would remove bollards obstructing wheelchair users from using footpaths within three months. The BMC counsel had informed the court that a comprehensive survey of all 24 wards had been completed, and instructions had been issued to relevant officers to address the obstructions promptly.

Today during the hearing, the BMC counsel submitted before a division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik that the BMC has removed all the bollards from the footpaths. The counsel further said in case of any grievances, individuals can approach the Assistant Commissioner of Local Ward Office.

During the previous hearing, the State government, the State government had submitted that a State Advisory Board for the differently abled persons under Section 66 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 was constituted.

Today, the State counsel stated that an Advisory Board meeting was held on 25.03.2025, wherein discussions were held concerning policies benefiting disabled individuals. The counsel prayed for time to file an affidavit about the discussions of the meeting.

The Court took note of the submissions and adjourned the matter to 17 April.

Case title: High Court of Judicature at Bombay on its own Motion vs. Municipal Corporation for Greater Mumbai and Anr (SMP/3/2023) 

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