‘Will deal with it if…’: Bombay HC on BMC’s Neville D’Souza move despite assuring no decision

Despite the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) assuring the Bombay High Court that no final decision would be made on converting Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra Reclamation into an exhibition or convention centre, the court has stated it will address the matter if it deems the civic body's actions inappropriate. This came during a hearing on Wednesday when the MFA informed the court that the BMC had not followed its verbal assurance given on August 10.

The High Court had posted the hearing for August 24, but a week before, the BMC approved the proposal amid Opposition objections. Senior advocate Zal Andhyarujina, representing the MFA, informed the court that despite the assurances, the general body of the BMC took the decision based on a recommendation from the civic improvements committee.

The court's acting chief justice, Ravindra V Ghuge, stated that if the court felt any decision was inappropriate based on the court's proceedings, they would deal with it. The MFA's plea sought interim protection against changes that could alter the ground's physical or functional character, removal of sporting infrastructure, or steps towards transforming the reservation into an exhibition or convention centre.