Bhopal Municipal Corporation guilty of illegal demolition:High Court says, ‘Supreme Court guidelines were ignored’; contempt proved against commissioner

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) guilty in a case involving the demolition of illegal constructions. The court observed that the municipal body demolished structures without following the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, calling it a challenge to the rule of law. The High Court’s bench delivered the judgment on Thursday in the case of Marlin Buildcon Pvt Ltd vs. Bhopal Municipal Corporation. The court also held BMC Commissioner, Sangeeta Jain, guilty of contempt of court and scheduled a hearing for sentencing on February 6, 2026. Violation of Supreme Court guidelines The High Court noted that the Supreme Court had clearly outlined mandatory procedures for removing illegal constructions, which include: However, Bhopal Municipal Corporation bypassed all these steps and carried out the demolition directly, which the court ruled as legally wrong. Demolition while case was pending The court highlighted that a civil court case regarding the disputed construction was still ongoing. Despite this, the Municipal Corporation demolished the property without obtaining permission from the court. The case pertains to a portion of a property owned by Marlin Buildcon Pvt Ltd in Nadir Colony, Shyamla Hills, Bhopal. BMC had issued a demolition notice, claiming the structure was illegal. The company challenged the demolition in civil court, but before the hearing concluded, the Municipal Corporation had demolished the property’s front portion on November 18, 2025. Arguments from both sides During the High Court hearing, Commissioner Sangeeta Jain appeared in person and offered an unconditional apology. The court, however, required the demolished portion to be restored to its original condition. The Commissioner stated that it was not possible to restore the construction to its original form. The court responded that the Commissioner must now present her side regarding sentencing, which is scheduled for February 6 at 10:30 AM.