This was stated recently by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Counsel to the HC on a petition filed by M/s A A Auctioneers & Contractors Pvt Ltd, who had challenged a communication from BMC asking them to vacate seven sites which were part of the 47 locations given to them for running 'pay and park' facility till December 31.
In deference to the observations made by the Court during the hearing, counsel for the Corporation submitted that the petitioners can be allowed to occupy all the 47 sites till the contract with the petitioners is subsisting.
However, the counsel said the petitioners must vacate all the 47 sites on or before the midnight of December 31 so that the civic body can take over them from January 1 and employ its own staff to look after the pay and park facility to be provided to the general public.
Counsel for the petitioners argued that the civic body has no means to provide the logistical support for looking after these parking lots.
The court, however, noted that there was no reason to doubt BMC's ability and efficiency at this stage to undertake the service. In any case, the petitioners cannot force themselves on the Corporation and compel it (BMC) to continue with the contract which is to expire on December 31.
Justices A M Khanwilkar and Mridula Bhatkar, however, noted, "if this is the policy decision taken by the Corporation, the question of resorting to tender process for allocation of 'pay and park' agency work in respect of these 47 locations will not be required."