The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Kerala Government to give Rs 25 lakh each as interim compensation to the owners of Maradu flats, being demolished on the court’s orders for violation of environment norms by builders, after it was informed that they have been given a lower amount.
A bench of justices Arun Mishra and S Ravindra Bhat asked the builders of Maradu flats to deposit Rs 20 crore within one month with the court-appointed committee in the matter.
The top court said the attached bank account of the builders will be detached for depositing the amount.
The bench also asked builders to submit their banking details on affidavit with the court.
It also rejected a prayer of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) that the flats should not be demolished and put to some other use. “We are not going back from our demolition orders. This matter can’t be agitated afresh. Our order is final,” the bench said while rejecting the plea of CREDAI.
The court also asked the one-member committee to assess the documentary proof of payments made by flat owners to builders after some homebuyers told the bench that they had paid more than Rs 25 lakh to the developers.
A counsel for homebuyers told the bench that they had paid more than Rs 25 lakh each for their flats to the builder but the court-appointed committee has assessed the compensation amount to be less than what has been paid.