Pune: PMC Faces Legal Notice Over Pothole Death, Alleged Contempt of Bombay High Court
Pune, 13th August 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been accused of statutory negligence and contempt of court over its alleged failure to maintain city roads, following a fatal accident involving an elderly two-wheeler rider who reportedly lost control due to a damaged road surface.
In a legal notice issued by advocate Ronita Bhattacharya Bector on behalf of petitioners and civic activists Qaneez-E-Fatemah Sukhrani and Pushkar Kulkarni, PMC has been charged with breaching its statutory duty under Section 63(18) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, and violating the Bombay High Court’s order dated February 6, 2025 in PIL No. 88 of 2023. The order had directed the corporation to maintain all public streets and roads in good condition, free of potholes and hazards, as part of citizens’ fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
High Court Orders and Assurances
The High Court had also recorded PMC’s undertakings to fully implement the recommendations of the Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) and the Road Development and Road Maintenance Committee (RDRMC), follow technical norms, and ensure road safety for motorists and pedestrians. However, the notice alleges that despite these commitments, PMC has failed to act effectively, leading to dangerous road conditions across the city.
Repeated Complaints Ignored
Sukhrani’s correspondence with PMC officials between May and August 2025, as detailed in the notice, included:
Evidence of unauthorised trenching and digging on footpaths.
Queries on the reported repair of 724 potholes.
Documentation of unrepaired potholes and cracks persisting for over a month.
Allegations of substandard repairs and use of inferior materials.
Complaints about non-functional sewage and road repair apps, such as the recently launched “PMC Road Mitra,” which reportedly suffers from technical glitches.
Calls for regular RDRMC meetings, noting that only six meetings have been held since April 2024 despite court directives.
Fatal Accident Raises Liability Questions
Following the recent fatal accident, the notice claims PMC could even be held guilty of culpable homicide due to its negligence.
Quality Disparity Highlighted
In a pointed comparison, Sukhrani cited Jangli Maharaj Road, built 48 years ago without a single pothole or crack, as proof that durable roads are possible when proper construction methods are followed. She criticised PMC’s tendering policy of awarding contracts to the lowest bidder, alleging it compromises quality.
Proposed Solutions
The notice suggests:
Finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for road repairs with clear accountability.
Making third-party audits mandatory for all major works.
Creating an effective, time-bound grievance redressal system for citizens.
Implementing the Rasta Dattak Yojana citywide for regular road maintenance.
Demands and Legal Warning
The notice gives PMC 30 days to:
Remove all hazardous road conditions, prioritising the accident site.
Submit an Action Taken Report with geo-tagged before-and-after photos.
Provide third-party quality certifications.
Report on the status of STAC and RDRMC recommendations.
Initiate disciplinary action against responsible officers and contractors.
Failure to comply, the notice warns, will result in legal proceedings, including contempt of court, and demands to fix personal liability on erring officials and contractors for damages and compensation to victims.
PMC has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.
