'Serious Issue': Bombay High Court Initiates Suo Motu PIL Over Water Shortage At Mumbai University Girl's Hostel

The Bombay High Court on Monday (August 17) took suo motu cognisance of the "acute water shortage" being faced by the University of Mumbai's Madam Cama Girl's Hostel situated in the city's posh Churchgate area.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad initiated the suo motu proceedings after coming across news reports carried by two leading Marathi newspapers, which highlighted the ordeal of the hostel inmates owing to the acute water shortage since more than 15 days now.

"This is a serious issue," the bench said while appointing advocate Yugandhara Khanvilkar as an Amicus Curaie in the matter.

"We have come across certain news reports that were published in Marathi daily Lokmat on page 4 of the August 14, 2026 edition, page 5 of Marathi newspaper Maharashtra Times in the edition dated August 14, 2026 and in Maharashtra Times, page 6 of the August 15, 2026 edition in respect of lack of basic facilities provided in the girls hostels," the bench recorded in the order. 

As per the news reports, the Hostel has been getting very less water supply, which the University has attributed to an ongoing civic work nearby the hostel premises, being carried out by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The judges have asked the Amicus to draft a petition copy within two weeks and has asked her to serve a copy of the memo to the respondent authorities so that they can get appropriate instructions from the concerned departments and make proper submissions before the bench. The Amicus has been asked to furnish a copy of the petition by August 29.

"We request the Amicus Curiae to cause a research on this issue and gather sufficient information to espouse the cause for which this Court has registered this Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation. We request her to prepare the Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation Petition and tender it to the Court by August 29, 2026. Needless to state, the Respondent- Authorities would be served with the copies of the Memo of the Petition in order to enable them to take instructions," the bench ordered. 

The matter has been adjourned for hearing on September 2.

Appearance:

Advocate Yugandhara Khanwilkar appointed as Amicus Curiae.

Assistant Government Pleader PV Nelson Rajan represented the State.

Case Title: High Court on its Own Motion vs State of Maharashtra [SMPIL (ST) 23909 of 2026]

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