Bombay HC Allows Christmas Musical Festival At Girgaum Chowpatty Across 15,000 Sq Metres

On November 9, 2026, the Bombay High Court granted the Prabhu Yeshu Janmotrav Trust permission to host its annual Christmas Musical Festival on a 15,000 square metre expanse at Girgaum Chowpatty, scheduled for December 13. Earlier in the day, the court's bench, comprising Justices BP Colabawalla and Farhan Dubash, approved the trust's request for additional space, surpassing the 4,180.3 square metres designated in a 2018 order.

The court referenced five prior approvals granted to the trust, dating back to 2023, 2024, and 2025, permitting the event to be held in the same area. However, it paid attention to previous concerns about organisers exceeding the permitted area and breaching conditions, as well as a previous fire incident. The court instructed authorities to promptly mark out the designated area.

The permission came with several stipulations. The trust was prohibited from displaying commercial advertisements and required to secure all necessary permissions and no-objection certificates from relevant local authorities, including the Fire Department and Electrical Inspection Department. The court also mandated adherence to environmental regulations and the deployment of private security personnel to ensure visitor safety and prevent potential law-and-order issues.

Representatives from monitoring committees, the Collector, Municipal Corporation, and the local police station were permitted to inspect the venue on the day of the event.

The court directed the trust to compensate any party adversely affected by the ruling. It clarified that other matters raised in the pending review petition would be addressed separately during its hearing.