In line with the Supreme Court’s directive to the Centre on July 22, the Indian Army on Friday took possession of the controversial 31 storey-Adarsh building at Colaba in south Mumbai to “ensure its security and prevent any encroachment”.
A Registrar appointed by the Bombay High Court supervised the “take-over” of Adarsh building, a process that the Army completed late in the evening.
Earlier in the afternoon, a statement released by the Ministry of Defence said: “The Supreme Court has ordered the Central government to take over possession of the Adarsh building, during the pendency of a Special leave Petition filed by the Adarsh society in the Supreme Court. On behalf of Government of India, the Indian Army is taking over the possession of the building from Adarsh society to ensure its security and prevent anyencroachment”.
A defence ministry spokesperson said in the evening that the Army had taken possession of “A” wing of Adarsh building by 6 pm and it was in the process of taking over the remaining portion later in the evening.
On Thursday, the Adarsh Co-operative Housing had convened a special general body meeting, at which the members felt that so far none of the conditions imposed by the Bombay High Court or Supreme Court or by government departments were breached.