Supreme Court dismisses residents’ plea
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the plea of residents of illegal flats in Mumbai’s Campa Cola Housing Society against the earlier order asking them to vacate their premises by May 31.
“We are of the view that the present petition is misconceived and hence, dismissed,” a bench comprising justices J S Khehar and C Nagappan said.
The bench also rejected the submission that at least the illegal flats be not demolished till the time Apex Court decides the curative petition of residents association in the case.
“It is a big humanitarian problem. 140 families have been asked to vacate the premises with no other place to go,” senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for the residents association, said, adding that, he was not advancing any arguments on legal grounds as it is nearly a mercy plea.
“Every case has a humanitarian issue. Otherwise there was no need for having courts,” the bench said.
The residents association said the illegal flats owner may vacate the premises but they (flats) should not be demolished till the disposal of the curative petition in the case.
The association, in its plea, had sought a direction to Maharashtra Government and Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay that they be asked not to demolish the illegal flats in the buildings till the Apex Court decides the petition.