India, Dec. 16 -- The Bombay High Court on Monday pulled up the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) over recurring deaths and injuries caused by open manholes and potholes, warning the civic body to "get their house in order" or face mounting compensation claims.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh D. Patil was hearing a contempt petition filed by advocate Ruju Thakker, in connection with a 2013 suo motu proceeding after five deaths were reported in two months within the limits of the BMC due to bad road conditions. The suo motu PIL was taken up after a then high court judge, Justice G S Patel, wrote a letter highlighting the "pathetic condition" of roads in and around Mumbai. More than a decade later, the court not...