Plea In Supreme Court Challenges Mumbai Civic Body's Proposal To Engage Reliance Industries For Landscaping Reclaimed Lands

A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the Expression of Interest (EoI) issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inviting private agencies/voluntary organizations for landscaping work on reclaimed lands along the Mumbai Coastal Road.

The petitioner challenges assignment of any work to Reliance Industries in pursuance to the aforesaid EoI and seeks restraint thereon.

The case was listed today before a bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, but was adjourned at the request of the petitioner.

The petition has been filed in public interest by one Jipnesh Narendra Jain, challenging the EoI dated 19.12.2024 issued by the BMC for "Volunteer Agency for Development and long term Maintenance of landscaping and garden as well as Maintenance of promenade for the Dharmaveer Swarajyarakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road (South)".

It seeks setting aside of any decision taken or arrangement made consequent to the EoI including any decision to appoint Reliance Industries Limited/Reliance Foundation as a "Volunteer Agency".

The petitioner further prays for a declaration that the reclaimed lands and promenade along the Mumbai Coastal Road (South) constitute "public trust property" and "coastal commons" held by the State and BMC in trust for the people, and that they cannot be alienated, licensed, entrusted or otherwise subjected to long-duration control by any private or corporate entity, except in accordance with a transparent statutory framework, development plan reservations and guidelines framed after due public consultation and subject to the prior leave of the Court.

In addition, he seeks an order restraining the BMC, Reliance Industries or any other private entity from acting on any agreement pursuant to the EoI, except to the extent of works carried out directly under BMC's control in accordance with Court orders and CRZ clearance. This is to ensure that the place remains free from privatization.

He further prays for a direction to the State of Maharashtra, BMC, MCZMA and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to timely frame and place before the Court a policy governing management of the reclaimed coastal lands and promenade. This policy may indicate the extent to which private participation in the works can be permitted and specify safeguards to ensure that the area remains non-commercial, the petitioner says.

The petitioner also seeks a direction for interim restrain on any commercial or revenue generating activities on the reclaimed lands. He seeks that only the BMC or other public authorities be allowed to carry out the works, at public expense, in strict adherence to CRZ and environmental clearances.

He further pleads that in any future process for involvement of external entities in development or maintenance of the reclaimed lands and promenade:

(i) the eligibility criteria, evaluation parameters and tenure shall be reasonable, non-discriminatory and consistent with the objective of preserving these areas as public commons;

(ii) citizen groups, NGOs, professional bodies and smaller, experienced firms shall be entitled to participate; and

(iii) the final decision shall be taken by the elected Genera Body of the Corporation in an open session after public disclosure of competing proposals.

Case Title: JIPNESH NARENDRA JAIN Versus STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS., W.P.(C) No. 1166/2025