Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Bombay High Court on May 8 directed the government to constitute an expert panel within four weeks to carry out a performance audit of the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971, to make it more effective and to achieve the “distant dream” of “slum-free” Mumbai and other cities in the state.
A special bench comprising Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Advait M Sethna delivered a verdict on a suo motu plea, initiated in response to a Supreme Court directive to review the working of the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971, and assess its implementation.
From 2024, the High Court conducted a unique, “one-of-itskind” proceedings for a review of the 1971 Act, moving beyond mere examination of its constitutional validity and identifying areas where it falls short. The Act, which focuses on the identification and upgradation of slum areas, has played an important role in the vertical expansion of Mumbai. However, delays in slum rehabilitation projects have been ruled by courts to be harmful to slum dwellers.
