While rejecting the plea filed by tenants, a division bench of justice AS Oka and justice Revati Mohite Dhere said: "There is no option but to pull down the century-old dilapidated structure owned by LIC in south Mumbai."
The Bombay High Court on Friday upheld the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decision to pull down a century-old building on DN Road considering the safety of public at large. The building, owned by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is in a dilapidated condition.
While rejecting the plea filed by tenants, a division bench of justice AS Oka and justice Revati Mohite Dhere said: "There is no option but to pull down the century-old dilapidated structure owned by LIC in south Mumbai."
On May 5, using his powers the municipal commissioner overruled the recommendations of the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee which sought repairs and restoration of the premises. The order, however, noted that the demolition should be carried out under the guidance of the heritage committee so that important objects can be salvaged and used when the building is redeveloped.
The commissioner had passed the order after the high court had directed it to convene a meeting and take a decision on whether demolition is required or repair work needs to be carried out to restore the building.
Earlier, LIC had also filed a petition seeking demolition of the building and challenging a recommendation by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee to preserve the building as it is a heritage structure.
The court, however, said that rights of the tenants will have to be protected. "If after demolition any application is filed for development then the civic body shall give advance notice to the tenants."
This was after LIC had earlier stated that if the building was developed after demolition the tenants would be accommodated in the new building. But LIC later changed its stand and said the tenants will not have rights to be accommodated in the new building.
The LIC (formerly the General Assurance Company) building, a three-storey brick-and-stone structure, was constructed way back in 1908. It housed offices of companies like Bisleri, the National Insurance Corporation, Western India Typewriter Co and the Hornby Commercial College. Few years ago, following heavy rains, a portion of the ceiling collapsed and all the tenants were evacuated.
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