Chalta Hai now not Mumbai's mantra

Mumbai: Mumbaikars are reinventing themsleves.

Instead of saying "chalta hai", they are demanding change and they don't mind moving the courts for it.

In our special series Eye On Mumbai we see how a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is becoming the new strategy for development.

The city has put up with a lot in the past. Bad roads, poor sewage disposal, illegal encroachments, poor town planning - the perfect ingredients for disaster, should calamity strike - which it did on July 26, 2005 when Mumbai went under water.

The go-getters of Mumbai are now raising their voice and at least 10 to 15 fresh PILs are filed every week.

Giving the reputation of go-getters a fresh twist are citizens like 67-year-old Bhagwanji Raiyani. He is the President of an NGO called the Janhit Manch.

His mission is to make the authorities accountable. His weapon of choice - PILs.

Best known for his PIL against the misuse of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) , Raiyani has filed nearly 60 PILs in the last nine years. He has also faced his share of disappointments.

"Even after the court order, the authorities are lax," says he in a disappointed voice. However, he adds, "I love my city and I will not give up before some changes come about."

Vice President, BJP Maharashtra, Kirit Somaiya says, "Mumbai is an educated city. It is the financial capital of India. There are many people here who want to fight for their rights and hence more PILs."

Lawyer and Women's Rights Activist, Flavia Agnes says, "One doesn't have to be an aggrieved party to file a PIL. Just anyone with an issue that concerns the interest of the public can file one."

The procedure is easy.

• One needs to file two copies of the petition.

• Ensure the party against whom the complaint is gets a copy of the petition in advance.

• Attach proof of this to the petition.

• Pay court fees - Rs 50 per respondent

However, Agnes says that a PIL should always be the last resort - to be Considered only when you have exhausted all other means. "

"PILs mean a lot of hard work. You have to know your data, collect facts, you have to know what you are talking about," says she.

For now it seems this legal weapon is what Mumbaikars are wielding to give the phrase taking the law into your own hands a whole new twist.