The Supreme Court of India has directed the Bombay High Court to expedite the hearing of a plea challenging the construction of a passenger jetty near Mumbai’s Gateway of India, emphasizing that the High Court should proceed without being influenced by any prior observations made by the Supreme Court .

This directive follows the Supreme Court’s earlier decision on May 27, 2025, where it declined to entertain a special leave petition filed by Colaba residents, including Laura D’Souza, challenging the Bombay High Court’s refusal to halt the jetty’s construction . The apex court noted that the High Court is already scheduled to hear the matter on June 16 and urged it to resolve the issue promptly, preferably before the monsoon season.

The ₹299 crore project, led by the Maharashtra Maritime Board, aims to develop passenger amenities near the historic Gateway of India. While the state government asserts that the jetty will serve the general public, opponents, including the Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association, argue that the project lacks adequate public consultation and could negatively impact the heritage site .

The Bombay High Court had previously refused to halt the construction, stating that the project serves public interest and that any actions taken would be subject to the outcome of the petition .

The next hearing in the Bombay High Court is scheduled for June 16, 2025.

sources