Bombay high court relief for Worli chawl tenants

Around 80 tenants of three chawls next to Harsiddhi building in Worli got a relief from the Bombay high court on Thursday. The court has directed the civic body not to take coercive action against members of Hiraseth Parikhwadi housing society who have been told to vacate their homes for allowing the BMC to build a storm water pumping station.

A division bench of justices Ranjana Desai and RG Ketkar directed the BMC advocate Komal Punjabi to inform the court what action the BMC had proposed to take by Friday.

The residents in their petition said that they want to redevelop their society but the corporation has issued them a notice for vacating without hearing them.

On February 22, the HC had issued a direction to the BMC to hear the society and decide as per law. However, the very next day, the corporation issued a notice. Punjabi informed the court that it might just be a coincidence or miscommunication.

The HC observed that the BMC should come clean on the subject and the officer concerned should be present in court on Friday.
The petition states that the tenants have been occupying the place since 1947 after taking the plot on lease for 99 years. However, in 2008, the BMC issued them a notice for vacating their homes as they want to build a pumping station. The members want to develop the land on their own, but the BMC is not willing.