The Bombay High Court has restrained the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation from taking any further actions to convert a major football facility in Bandra into an exhibition venue, following the civic body’s failure to honor its commitment to maintain status quo during ongoing litigation.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad issued the restraining order on Thursday. The directive stops the implementation of a resolution passed on Tuesday by the municipal General Body, which approved changing the reservation of the Neville D’Souza football ground from a playground to an exhibition centre. The court directed the civic administration to file an affidavit and scheduled the next hearing for next month.
Judicial Rebuke Over Breached Assurances
The court’s intervention follows an August 10 proceeding during which municipal representatives requested additional time to submit an affidavit and orally assured the bench that no final decision would be made while the petition was pending. Despite that assurance, the General Body voted to approve the land-use change earlier this week.
When questioned about the breach, senior counsel Girish Godbole, representing the municipal body, stated that the municipal commissioner and relevant civic officials were unaware of the oral assurance given to the court.
The bench criticized the breach, stating that the majesty of the law was compromised when officials act contrary to oral assurances made in court. The judges also raised concerns regarding the diminishing availability of public recreational areas, remarking that open spaces must be preserved to prevent future generations from losing touch with outdoor sports.
Background of the Legal Challenge
The legal proceedings were initiated by the Mumbai Football Association, which filed a petition challenging the rezoning effort under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. The petition specifically contests a November 2025 letter from the housing agency MHADA and a May 2026 recommendation from the municipal Improvements Committee advocating for the site’s conversion.
In its filing, the association noted that municipal authorities put forward the proposal without conducting a user survey, a feasibility study, or a sports impact assessment.
Facility Profile and Impact
Located at Bandra Reclamation, the 8,450-square-metre ground is named after legendary Indian football player Neville D’Souza. The sports facility features FIFA-standard artificial turf, spectator seating for approximately 5,000 people, and serves as the venue for more than 900 official matches each season.
