Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Summons MP Committee Records in Bhopal Commercial Case
The Supreme Court is the highest court in India, like the head judge of the whole country.
In the city of Bhopal, some shops were running in houses and buildings where shops are not allowed.
The city's municipal corporation, which takes care of the city, was closing those shops by sealing them.
The government of Madhya Pradesh made a group of ten people, called a committee, to stop the sealing.
The Supreme Court said that the government should not have done this.
The court said the government's order looked like an attempt to interfere with the court's work.
The court paused the government's order and asked to see all the records about how the committee was formed.
The court also wants to know why seals were removed from about 100 shops.
The next court hearing will be on September 15.
The court asked judges to decide these cases quickly, within six weeks.
The Supreme Court summoned the original records and reports behind the 10-member committee constituted by the Madhya Pradesh government in the Bhopal commercial case.
The bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan kept the state's August 2 administrative order forming the committee in abeyance, calling it 'prima facie contemptuous.'
The court warned its observation should act as a deterrent against any further attempt to interfere with the directions it issued.
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued nearly 1,000 notices against commercial establishments in residential areas, and around 100 initially sealed premises later had their seals removed.
The next hearing is set for September 15 at 2 pm, and the Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur was asked to decide related cases within six weeks.
- Who
- A Supreme Court of India bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan, the Madhya Pradesh government, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, and petitioner Purnendu Shukla.
- What
- The Supreme Court summoned the original records of the Madhya Pradesh government's 10-member committee and kept its August 2 order forming the committee in abeyance, terming it prima facie contemptuous.
- When
- The hearing was held on August 5; the written order was uploaded on Monday; the next hearing is scheduled for September 15 at 2 pm.
- Where
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India; before the Supreme Court of India, with related cases at the Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur.
- Why
- The court found that the committee appeared intended to interfere with the administration of justice and with its directions on the BMC's sealing drive against illegal commercial establishments in residential areas.
Madhya Pradesh government's stance
Supreme Court's view
Purpose of the 10-member committee
Madhya Pradesh government's stance
The state argued the committee was only intended to provide a policy and procedural framework for implementing the Supreme Court's directions on residential properties being used for commercial purposes.
Supreme Court's view
The court called the committee's formation 'prima facie contemptuous' and said it appeared intended to interfere with the administration of justice, keeping the order in abeyance.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India (bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan)
- Committee
- 10-member committee constituted by the Madhya Pradesh government
- Administrative order
- August 2 order, kept in abeyance with immediate effect
- Hearing date
- August 5; written order uploaded the following Monday
- Next hearing
- September 15 at 2 pm
- BMC notices
- Nearly 1,000 notices issued against properties used commercially in violation of norms
- Sealed premises
- Around 100 premises sealed, then had their seals removed
- Jabalpur High Court
- Asked to decide related cases within six weeks