Pune Footpaths: Contempt Petition Filed Against PMC Over Alleged Non-Compliance With High Court Order
Pune, 1st October 2026: A contempt petition has been filed before the Bombay High Court alleging non-compliance by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) with directions issued on April 3, 2025, concerning the rights of pedestrians and the provision of safe and unobstructed footpaths in Pune.
The petition has been filed by Qaneez Sukhrani, who is the petitioner in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 141 of 2023.
According to Sukhrani, the High Court had stated that the PMC has a statutory responsibility to address pedestrian rights and provide safe and unobstructed passage.
Sukhrani has alleged that despite the court’s directions, the PMC has failed to clear encroachments and other obstructions from footpaths, repair damaged footpaths and construct pedestrian pathways at locations where they are required.
According to the petition, a legal notice seeking compliance with the court’s directions was issued to the PMC on April 9, 2026. Sukhrani has alleged that despite receiving the notice, the civic body has neither taken effective action nor provided a compliance report.
The petitioner has further claimed that she communicated with the PMC on around 30 occasions between July 18, 2025, and May 31, 2026, seeking the constitution of a committee headed by an Additional Municipal Commissioner. The proposed committee was intended to monitor footpath-related issues and coordinate action against agencies and departments responsible for obstructions, according to the petition.
The petition seeks coordination between the PMC and agencies including the Pune Traffic Police, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), Maha Metro, BSNL and internet service providers. It also calls for footpaths to be constructed in accordance with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) 103:2022 standards.
Sukhrani has also alleged that the PMC has not established a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism for pedestrian complaints, provided a helpline number or made available details of area-wise officials responsible for addressing such complaints.
The petitioner has submitted photographs and newspaper reports as evidence which, according to her, demonstrate alleged non-compliance with the High Court’s directions.
The petition alleges that the continued failure to implement the court’s order amounts to wilful disobedience under Section 2(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The petitioner has sought action against the concerned respondents under the Act.
Among the reliefs sought, the petition asks the High Court to issue notices to the concerned respondents and call for records relating to steps taken to comply with the April 3, 2025 order. It also seeks directions for immediate compliance with the order and further monitoring of the matter by the court.
The respondents listed in the petition include the PMC Municipal Commissioner, the Maharashtra government through its Urban Development Department, the Town Planning and Valuation Department, the Pune District Collector, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).
