Residents of Campa Cola compound fought last week to save their homes
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today ordered the residents of some 100 illegal flats in Mumbai's Campa Cola compound to guarantee that they would vacate their homes by May.
"The residents have to give within six weeks an undertaking that they will vacate by May 31," the top court said, adding that if they did not do so, Mumbai's civic body would take action.
Last week, the Supreme Court had intervened at the eleventh hour and stopped civic teams from razing the flats in the south Mumbai complex as residents bitterly fought eviction, refusing to budge despite the court's deadline.
In a ruling that legal experts felt would set a bad precedent, the top court said the demolition would be on hold and a new plan to accommodate the residents would be considered. "We are disturbed by media reports. Apart from the legal issue, the human angle is also there," the court had said.
The court had cited Attorney General Goolam Vahanvati's suggestion that residents who stand to lose their homes be given a new building in the same complex. But today, the government's lawyer said no specific proposal could be worked out.
Seven high-rises were constructed at what came to be called the Campa Cola Compound, between 1981 and 1989. The builders had permission for only five floors, but constructed many more.
The residents have been fighting a legal battle since 2000, when they first went to the Bombay High Court for water supply and regularization. The court asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to investigate, and the civic body served demolition notices for all flats constructed above the fifth floor.
"The residents have to give within six weeks an undertaking that they will vacate by May 31," the top court said, adding that if they did not do so, Mumbai's civic body would take action.
Last week, the Supreme Court had intervened at the eleventh hour and stopped civic teams from razing the flats in the south Mumbai complex as residents bitterly fought eviction, refusing to budge despite the court's deadline.
In a ruling that legal experts felt would set a bad precedent, the top court said the demolition would be on hold and a new plan to accommodate the residents would be considered. "We are disturbed by media reports. Apart from the legal issue, the human angle is also there," the court had said.
The court had cited Attorney General Goolam Vahanvati's suggestion that residents who stand to lose their homes be given a new building in the same complex. But today, the government's lawyer said no specific proposal could be worked out.
Seven high-rises were constructed at what came to be called the Campa Cola Compound, between 1981 and 1989. The builders had permission for only five floors, but constructed many more.
The residents have been fighting a legal battle since 2000, when they first went to the Bombay High Court for water supply and regularization. The court asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to investigate, and the civic body served demolition notices for all flats constructed above the fifth floor.
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