Supreme Court of India(SCI)dismisses Campa Cola Residents’ plea against eviction Tuesday June 03,2014

The Supreme Court of India(SCI) on Tuesday June 03,2014dismissed the plea of residents of illegal flats in Mumbai’s Campa Cola Housing Society against the earlier order asking them to vacate their premises by May 31. “We are of the view that the present petition is misconceived and hence, dismissed,” a bench comprising justices J S Khehar and C Nagappan said.

The bench also rejected the submission that at least the illegal flats be not demolished till the time apex court decides the curative petition of residents association in the case. “It is a big humanitarian problem. 140 families have been asked to vacate the premises with no other place to go,” senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for the residents association, said, adding that, he was not advancing any arguments on legal grounds as it is nearly a mercy plea.

“Every case has a humanitarian issue. Otherwise there was no need for having courts,” the bench said. The residents association said the illegal flats owner may vacate the premises but they (flats) should not be demolished till the disposal of the curative petition in the case.

The association, in its plea, had sought a direction to Maharashtra government and Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay that they be asked not to demolish the illegal flats in the buildings till the apex court decides the petition. “Allow the present writ petition filed by the petitioner Association before this court and issue writ of Mandamus or Certiorari or any other appropriate writ or directions, directing the respondents not to demolish the building or take any other coercive steps till the outcome of the present writ petition,” the plea had said.

Municipal Corporation Directs Residents To Hand Over Keys Monday June 09,2014
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) on Monday June 09,2014 directed the residents of the illegal flats in Worli's Campa Cola compound to hand over the keys to their flats to the civic body or face "legal action". 

The residents in question have failed to hand over possession of their illegally-built flats despite orders of Supreme Court, MCGM said in a notice in Mumbai.

"As the period granted by Supreme Court has already expired, you are hereby once again called upon to quit and vacate the premises in your occupation/possession along with your belongings within 72 hours... and deliver peaceful possession to MCGM in order (that it may) carry out the directions of Supreme court," MCGM said.

It further said that the keys would be collected between 10.30 A.M. and 5 P.M. from June 10 to June 12 in the chamber of the Assistant Engineer of G Ward.

As many as 96 flats in the Campa Cola compound were built illegally in the early 1980s.