India, May 9 -- The Bombay high court on Friday directed the state government to set up an expert committee within four weeks to conduct a comprehensive audit of the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance & Redevelopment) Act, 1971, after raising concerns about the "abysmal progress of the ideals of town planning expected of an international city like Mumbai, when large areas are still slums".

A division bench of Justice G S Kulkarni and Justice Advait Sethna said there was a need for an area-wise and phase-wise systematic and scientific approach to clear the city of slums. "While the task is Herculean, it is not impossible, provided there is committed determination and willingness by the authorities to achieve public good," it s...