Top Court To Hear Review Petitions Of Owners Of Illegal Kochi Flats

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear in open court the review petitions of flat owners from Kerala's Kochi who are seeking appropriate relief from the builders after the top court ordered the demolition of the illegal flats. 

The top court had ordered demolition of four apartment complexes in Maradu near the backwaters of Ernakulam for violation of Coastal Regulatory Zone rules on September 6.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said it would hear the status of demolition of the flats in the second week of January.

A status report on top court's September 6 order was submitted today by the Kerala government where it said that the demolition orders are being followed according to the schedule.

The state government has paid 27 crore as interim compensation to the flat owners, as per top court's earlier orders, and it needs time to pay an additional amount of Rs 33.5 crore to them, the counsel appearing for the Kerala government told the court today.

The top court had earlier directed the demolition and approved the 138-day time frame proposed by the state government. The court also had ordered payment of interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to the owner of the flats. Today, the top court said it will decide the final amount of compensation later.

According to the Supreme Court order, the four buildings which have 343 residential units are in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules and need to be demolished.  

The state government had submitted a plan under which in 138 days the structure would be demolished -- including 90 days for demolition and 38 days for removing of debris.