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The Bombay High Court has instructed all municipal corporations across Maharashtra to immediately halt work and initiate legal action against builders found in violation of new safety norms. The court's directive follows a series of fatal accidents, including one where a rod fell from a metro construction site, and aims to enforce stringent safety protocols for high-rise buildings. The new measures, part of a report from an expert committee, are now a mandatory condition for all future building permissions, making any breach a civil and criminal offense punishable by law. This decisive action is a critical step to ensure public safety.
The Bombay High Court has issued a stern directive to all civic bodies and planning authorities throughout Maharashtra, instructing them to suspend all work and take both civil and criminal action against construction firms that breach newly mandated safety norms for high-rise projects. The court's order, delivered by a division bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Arif Doctor, emphasizes that any violation of these new guidelines will be treated as a serious breach of building permissions. Advertisement
The court's intervention was prompted by a series of tragic incidents. A recent mishap where an iron rod fell from an under-construction Metro bridge in Bhiwandi and pierced a commuter's head, along with a fatal accident in Worli in 2023 where a cement block fell from the 52nd floor of a building and killed two people, reignited the court's concerns about public safety near high-rise projects. The court's order aims to safeguard the lives of citizens, including those who are not directly involved in construction but are vulnerable to hazards from nearby sites.
Following these incidents, the court on August 7, 2025, appointed an expert committee that submitted a report titled "Special Safety Control Recommendations for Working at Heights During High Rise Construction." The report, which has now been accepted and its recommendations made mandatory, highlights the lack of specific rules for high-rise construction safety, which has led to negligence by builders and developers. The guidelines call for stringent measures, including the appointment of a Licensed Safety Officer (LSO) on every project site who would be present full-time until a crane is dismantled. It also recommends a safety team for all buildings above 120 meters and the use of protective structures and nets to prevent debris from falling onto adjacent public areas.
As a result of the court's directive, the Urban Development Department has issued a notification to all planning authorities to implement the committee's recommendations. The court has also ordered that a specific condition mandating adherence to the safety report be included in all future development permissions. Any non-compliance will lead to immediate action, including the suspension of work and the initiation of legal proceedings. The court concluded its order by directing planning authorities to maintain a special vigil on high-rise constructions, affirming that a breach of compliance will not be tolerated.
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