The Esplanade Mansion, whose occupants have sought a stay on their eviction from the decrepit heritage building, collapsed, as it would cause loss of many lives.
The Bombay High Court said on Wednesday that it would be a disaster if the Esplanade Mansion, whose occupants have sought a stay on their eviction from the decrepit heritage building, collapsed, as it would cause loss of many lives.
A division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudesai was hearing a petition filed by advocate Ashok Sarogi against the eviction notice issued to the building's occupants by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) in 2015.
"We are only interested in ensuring no loss of life takes place," the bench said. The next hearing is on July 25.
The court has also issued a notice to the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, asking it to be represented by a senior officer, and inform the court whether permission can be granted to repair the more-than-a-century-old heritage structure.
Senior advocate Anil Sakhare, appearing for the BMC, said since the application seeking permission for repairs was not filed properly, "we have not issued a no-objection certificate".
Sarogi is one of the tenants of Esplanade Mansion, where a slab collapsed on Sunday. Nobody was injured. A taxi parked on the road, however, was crushed.
Advocate PG Lad, appearing for MHADA, argued that the authority has been issuing eviction notices since 2007 to the owners and tenants. "We want to save the lives of people. There are 15 families and over 200 advocates occupying the mansion," he said.
Sarogi had moved HC in 2015 when MHADA issued the eviction notice after the building was declared dilapidated and dangerous for habitation. The court had granted a stay on but it noted that the tenants were occupying the premises at their own risk.
RISKY BUSINESS
- As per MHADA’s list of dangerous buildings in the city, Esplanade Mansion ranks on top.
- A tenant (petitioner in the case) moved HC in 2015 against the body’s eviction notice.
- HC had granted a stay but said the occupants were inhabiting the building at their own risk.
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