BMC to seek Standing Committee approval for imposing punishment on civic official in Babu Genu building collapse incident

Mumbai: More than 12 years after Babu Genu market building at Dockyard Road collapsed, leading to the killing of 61 and injuring of 32, the civic administration has sought the approval of the Standing Committee for implementing the punishment imposed on a retired BMC Deputy Chief Engineer (Planning & Designs), wherein his basic pension will be reduced by 50% per month for a period of eight years. The Sessions Court earlier discharged him in the case. The five-storey Babu Genu Market building, owned by the BMC, situated on Brahmadev Khot Marg, Dockyard Road, crumbled on Sept 27, 2013. Several BMC engineers, including this Deputy Chief Engineer, were arrested after the incident.According to the civic administration, following the incident, a comprehensive departmental inquiry was conducted against the retired Deputy Chief Engineer (Planning & Design) on the basis of the order issued by the then Municipal Commissioner in Oct 2014. Based on the enquiry, the Municipal Commissioner, in Sept 2024, arrived at a decision to impose a penalty, wherein the basic pension of the official would be reduced by 50% per month for a period of eight years, as one of the charges levelled against him was proven partially, while the other was proven fully.As the Deputy Chief Engineer retired from the service and given that the nature of the penalty proposed to be imposed upon him is severe, a show-cause notice was served upon him for imposing a penalty. Thereafter, the Municipal Commissioner issued an order on April 25, 2025, directing that the official's basic pension be reduced by 50% per month for a period of eight years.Meanwhile, the official informed the BMC Enquiry Department on April 11, 2025, that the Sessions Court discharged him in the case filed against him following the incident on March 11, 2025. Thereafter, the Municipal Commissioner was informed about the development. However, the Municipal Commissioner did not make any change in the punishment imposed upon the official and issued an order on Sept 14 last year. As the approval of the BMC Standing Committee is required for implementing the order of punishment, the same will be presented before the committee on Monday. Before it collapsed, the building was declared ‘Class C2 (B)' dilapidated and was in ‘urgent need of repairs', besides illegal alterations too being carried out to the building.