The Bombay High Court has ordered the Maharashtra state government to form an expert committee within four weeks to conduct a thorough audit of the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance & Redevelopment) Act, 1971. This decision comes in light of concerns regarding the insufficient progress in transforming Mumbai into a slum-free city, despite its status as an international metropolis. The court, led by Justice G S Kulkarni and Justice Advait Sethna, emphasized the necessity for a systematic and scientific approach to slum clearance, acknowledging the Herculean nature of the task but asserting it is achievable with commitment from authorities. The Supreme Court had previously directed this review to ensure the law's effectiveness in practice. Currently, around 12 million people reside in slums occupying 875.97 acres of land in Mumbai, with 1,612 cases pending under the Slum Act, many of which are over a decade old. The court criticized the lack of policies to protect public lands from encroachments and called for strict actions against officials failing to safeguard these lands. The ruling underscores the importance of prioritizing the rights and expectations of Mumbai's citizens in urban planning efforts.