India, Dec. 6 -- In a stinging rebuke to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), the Bombay High Court on Thursday criticised officials for halting the preparation of Annexure-II in a Kandivali slum redevelopment project after receiving letters from a local MLA. The court termed the action a "complete abdication of statutory duties" and cautioned that such political interference "must never be repeated."

A division bench of justices GS Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe was hearing a petition filed by the New Shree Krishna SRA Co-operative Housing Society, which represents 285 slum dwellers at CTS No. 846 in Laljipada, Kandivali West. The society alleged that despite the scheme being approved in February 2023 and survey work having begun, SRA off...