In a decisive move to safeguard Mumbai’s living lung, the Bombay High Court has assembled a High-Powered Committee led by former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Dilip Babasaheb Bhosale. The panel’s mission: to ensure the long-overdue protection and preservation of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) — a natural crown jewel straddling Mumbai and Thane.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrasekhar and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad created the committee while hearing a contempt plea that accused authorities of ignoring judicial directions dating back to 1995. The Court expressed concern that despite repeated orders, encroachments continued to chip away at the park’s boundaries.
“We cannot allow this ecological treasure to be slowly devoured by inaction,” the Bench noted, directing the Advocate General and senior counsels to suggest a mechanism for long-term protection — leading to the formation of the High-Powered Committee.
The Committee at a Glance
The panel includes:
-
Justice Dilip Babasaheb Bhosale (Retd.), Chairperson
-
Nitin Kareer, Former Chief Secretary, Maharashtra
-
Subodhkumar Jaiswal, Former Director General of Police, Maharashtra
-
Anita Patil, Conservator of Forests and Director, SGNP
Their Mandate
The committee’s task list is as ambitious as the forest it seeks to protect:
-
Fortify the park by speeding up construction of its boundary wall to halt fresh encroachments.
-
Monitor compliance with the High Court’s previous orders and recommend new protective measures.
-
Identify and facilitate rehabilitation for those to be relocated, including finding suitable land for resettlement.
-
Coordinate with agencies to ensure eviction and rehabilitation efforts are lawful and humane.
-
Review pending applications tied to the park’s preservation and submit findings to the Court.
The State has been instructed to provide full logistical support — from vehicles and office space to police and secretarial assistance. The Court made it clear that non-cooperation would be treated as contempt.
Justice Bhosale will receive ₹1 lakh per sitting, while the other members will be compensated ₹55,000 each.
Thirty Years of Waiting
The petitioners reminded the Court that three decades have passed since the original plea for protection was filed — a timeline punctuated by numerous unimplemented orders. The Bench took note of the State’s assurances, including plans to make 44 acres of a 90-acre rehabilitation zone immediately available for displaced occupants, with the remaining land under review.
Commending Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf’s proactive stance, the Court ordered that all details of the Committee — including its meeting schedule and, where appropriate, its minutes — be published on government websites to ensure transparency.
The Committee’s first report is due within three months of its inaugural meeting. The case will next be reviewed on February 19, 2026.
The Court’s message was unmistakable: Sanjay Gandhi National Park will no longer be left to the mercy of neglect — it will now have guardians with teeth.
