Bombay High Court halts BMC bid to convert Neville D’Souza football ground in Bandra

Mumbai, August 20, 2026: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the BMC to refrain from taking any further steps to change the reservation of Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation until the next hearing on September 18, noting that it was "unfortunate" that the undertaking given by the BMC’s advocate to the court was not communicated to the civic chief.“You must tell us where people will play football now. Some places have to be left open. Otherwise, the next generation will forget what they call it as maidani khel (outdoor sports). They will forget the ground,” a bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad said.It said, “We have a bigger problem. We have an issue of the majesty of law being at stake. If the elected people or authorities are going to jeer at the courts, then that’s something very bad. So, we are now going to do something suo motu (on its own), unless you turn back the clock to August 10.”The court also issued notices to the BMC and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) on a petition filed by the Mumbai Football Association (MFA) challenging the proposed conversion of the football ground into an exhibition/convention centre.MFA Flags BMC MoveThe development comes a day after the MFA flagged a BMC move to clear a proposal to convert the Bandra football ground to an exhibition-cum-convention centre despite earlier assurances to the court on August 10 that the ground would not be converted.Advocate Zal Andhyarujina, appearing for the MFA, pointed out to the court that a question was put forth during the BMC’s general body meeting whether there was a stay (from HC). “The answer was there is no stay. And therefore, they said we are going ahead. So, this arrangement, which was put in place by your Lordship's call, was specifically not brought to their attention, despite an opportunity arising,” he said.He said the petitioner had relied on the statement made by the BMC in open court. He said the petitioner had also informed the BMC’s legal department about the assurance on the same day.BMC Defends ResolutionThe BMC has defended its move to approve the Bandra football ground conversion proposal, stating that its general body took the decision only to publish a notice inviting suggestions and objections from stakeholders.Now, the civic body has assured that the change in reservations will happen only after the state government passes an order.On a court query whether the BMC can keep the decision in abeyance till further hearing, senior advocate Girish Godbole, representing it, said that it was not possible under the Municipal Act for the Commissioner to request the general body to suspend or recall the resolution, passed based on the agenda of the meeting circulated last month.He also emphasised that the Municipal Commissioner was not aware of what had transpired during the August 10 hearing and that the agenda for the General Body meeting had already been circulated on July 22.The bench questioned how the Commissioner could remain unaware of the court proceedings when the corporation had a legal department.Court Questions UndertakingThe court also expressed concern over assurances given in court being treated casually. It said lawyers would eventually stop trusting statements made by their colleagues if such assurances were not honoured by their clients.“In several cases, a request is made by the respondent that the statement need not be recorded, but the status quo would be maintained. The petitioner trusted the statement of the corporation, which was made on instructions,” the bench said.ACJ Ghuge pointed out that it was the BMC which had sought adjournment on August 10 and “understanding is that the party which seeks an adjournment does not precipitate the issue”.Also Watch: Bombay HC Advances Bandra's Neville D’Souza Football Ground Plea Hearing To ThursdayThe bench directed the BMC to refrain from undertaking any further steps in relation to the football ground until further hearing. The court has asked the BMC and MHADA to file their reply affidavits and MFA to file a rejoinder affidavit.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

The Bombay high court has restrained the BMC and State government from proceeding with a resolution. This resolution aimed to change the reservation of Neville D’souza Football Ground. The court acted after being informed that the municipal commissioner was unaware of previous court proceedings. The court expressed concern over the corporation's actions and the majesty of law. Further hearings are scheduled for September 18 regarding this matter.

The Bombay High Court ordered the BMC to pause changes to Neville D’souza Football Ground's reservation. This directive came after the general body approved a change from playground to convention center. The court expressed concern over the general body's actions despite previous court assurances. BMC's advocate discussed recalling the resolution with the municipal commissioner.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday has directed the BMC to refrain from taking any further steps to change the reservation of Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation until further orders. #BombayHighCourt directed #BMC to refrain from taking any further steps to change the reservation of Neville D’Souza #FootballGround at #Bandra Reclamation until further orders. It noted that assurance given to the court was not communicated to the civic chief@fpjindia— Urvi Jappi-Mahajani (@UrviJM) August 20, 2026 The court further noted that an assurance given to it had not been communicated to the civic chief.Further details are awaited.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/ 

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) whether it was willing to keep in abeyance its decision to change the reservation of Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation, observing that the issue involved the “majesty of the court”. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing a petition filed by the Mumbai Football Association (MFA) challenging the proposed change of reservation of the football ground from a playground to an exhibition/convention centre.The court’s intervention came a day after the BMC General Body approved the proposal, despite an assurance given before the court on August 10 that no decision would be taken until the next hearing.Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde Conducts Surprise Inspection At Jogeshwari Trauma Care Hospital; Checks On Facilities, Patient Care & Arrangements Advocate Zal Andhyarjuna, appearing for the MFA, told the court that the statement made in open court was clear and had not been disputed or modified. He submitted that the BMC’s action showed that the situation had been “altered” despite the court’s earlier directions.The court questioned BMC’s counsel, senior advocate Girish Godbole, about the assurance. “We have an issue of the majesty of law being at stake. If the elected people or authorities are going to jeer at the courts, then that is something very bad,” the bench said. Mumbai Marathi Signboard Crackdown: BMC To Intensify Inspections Of Shops, Malls And Commercial Establishments “So, we are now going to suo motu contempt. Unless you turn back the clock to 10th August,” the court warned. .Godbole said that he will speak to the municipal commissioner. The court suggested that the BMC could at least keep the decision in abeyance. Godbole said the Commissioner could not simply keep the General Body resolution in abeyance but could place a proposal before the General Body seeking to keep its resolution in abeyance.The court will hear the matter again at 12.30 pm today. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/ 

On Tuesday night the BMC general body approved changing the reservation of the Neville D’Souza football ground in Bandra Reclamation from playground to an exhibition and convention centre. The Improvements Committee had cleared it in June. The Mumbai Football Association is in the Bombay High Court; replies are due by 24 August. Officials say a new ground will be provided. That promise is now the heart of the matter.The plot is modest: about 8,450 square metres or a little over two acres. It is a FIFA-standard turf with seating for roughly 5,000, used by MFA leagues and an estimated 8,000 to10,000 players a year. For a city that has lost other dedicated football venues, it has become the main full-sized pitch in regular use.It is named after Neville D’Souza, the Goan-born striker who scored a hat-trick against Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics the first Asian to do so. MHADA land was allotted or leased to the football association around 2011, named in 2015, and given its current turf by MMRDA in 2018. Before that it had the familiar Reclamation story: encroachments, a boundary wall, and intervention to secure it.The paperwork is older. The 1983 Bandra Reclamation layout reserved a larger parcel for a convention complex. DP 2034 showed this plot as a playground because a football ground already existed. MHADA wanted the original reservation restored, arguing the area lacks a dedicated convention facility and that the change can generate revenue.Temporary sports allotments that harden into permanence are a real civic problem. So is the city’s open-space deficit: about 1.28 square metres of public open space per person. A booked, floodlit turf used by children and clubs does not come back easily. “A new ground will be made available” is a sentence Mumbai has heard before.The convention-space claim is weaker when set against what already exists nearby. Jio World Convention Centre in BKC has 15,000 sq m of exhibition halls and 10,000 sq m of convention halls, plus a ballroom and meeting rooms many times this plot’s size, in a precinct built for events. Nesco in Goregaon is larger still. Whether Bandra Reclamation specifically needs another hall is a planning preference; whether Mumbai lacks convention space is a different question.MHADA’s claim is real. So is this pitch. The only fair sequence is a comparable ground first, change of use later. In Mumbai, the reverse usually means the pitch disappears and the promise remains.Ankieta Kothari is the founder of The Bombay Blueprint, a public platform chronicling Mumbai’s architecture, heritage, and evolving urban landscape.