Bombay High Court announces Rs 6 lakh compensation for pothole deaths in the city

The Hon. Bombay High Court on Monday took strong exception to the poor condition of Mumbai’s roads, saying there can be “no justification for bad roads” in India’s financial capital. The court directed that a compensation of Rs 6 lakh be paid in every case of death caused by potholes, open manholes or other civic lapses, holding civic bodies accountable for such negligence.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh Patil, hearing a clutch of public interest petitions, observed that citizens have a fundamental right to safe and motorable roads and that the government and municipal corporations are duty-bound to ensure the same.

“Deaths and accidents caused due to potholes, open manholes and neglected roads have become a regular occurrence. Accountability has to be fixed on those responsible,” the bench remarked, expressing concern over repeated incidents despite earlier court interventions.

The judges also noted that while crores of rupees are spent annually on road maintenance, the results are not visible on the ground. “It is not enough to allocate funds; it is essential to ensure proper execution and monitoring,” the court said, calling the civic approach “a clear example of administrative apathy.”

The High Court has now directed civic authorities — including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and the Maharashtra government — to file compliance affidavits detailing the measures taken to ensure road safety and prevent such fatalities.

The order comes amid mounting public anger over frequent mishaps attributed to poor road conditions during monsoon and ongoing infrastructure work. Activists and road users have repeatedly petitioned the court, citing numerous deaths linked to potholes and open drains.

The bench said the Rs 6 lakh compensation should be disbursed promptly and recovered from the officials or contractors found guilty of negligence. “Citizens cannot be expected to pay with their lives for administrative failures,” it observed.

The matter has been posted for further hearing after the civic bodies file their responses.