Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday directed the state government to pay Rs 25 lakh compensation to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s assistant commissioner of G ward, Airoli, who suffered a miscarriage after she was allegedly manhandled by a mob during a July 30 demolition drive.Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata, while awarding her compensation, observed that “the mental agony and physical suffering caused to the officer cannot be ignored.” They rapped the police who remained “mute spectators” and failed to protect her and other officials. They directed the DGP to “take stern necessary legal action against all personnel who were present and have failed to perform their duty”. They also directed compensation amount to be recovered from their salaries.The court was hearing a contempt petition by advocate Kishore Shetty regarding non-compliance of HC’s March 27, 2025 order to within four months conduct a survey to identify illegal constructions and hear its owners/occupants before undertaking demolition.On Tuesday, NMMC’s advocate informed that there was obstruction by a large mob during the July 30 demolition. He submitted the FIR registered regarding assault and manhandling of officers. He also informed that the ward officer later suffered a miscarriage. To the judges’ query regarding police, the advocate replied that police protection was sought and they were present at the site.The judges then questioned the state’s advocate, O A Chandurkar, what the police were doing. They asked Chandurkar to go through videos of the incident and identify the policemen, their role and also inform about the action taken against the accused.On Wednesday, Chandurkar said only commotion is seen in the videos. He said notices have been issued to the accused named in the FIR. When told that the notices were issued on Tuesday, the judges rebuked the state for “doing nothing” and issuing notices only after being questioned by the HC.In the order, the HC bench observed: “We are at a loss to accept that in the progressive state of Maharashtra in broad daylight public servants are assaulted by anti-social elements of society in the presence of police personnel deputed to give them protection. It cannot be permitted that public servants are assaulted, intimidated and coerced by anti-social elements while performing duty.”NMMC’s advocate Sugandh Deshmukh informed that another staffer, who was also manhandled, is receiving threats of dire consequences. The judges directed the police to provide him free of cost round-the-clock protection until the threat “subsides”.
