Mumbai's Willington View: BMC To Begin Forceful Eviction In Tardeo High-Rise If Residents Don't Vacate By August 27

The residents from the 17th to 34th floor of Willington View Cooperative Housing Society, the high-rise in south Mumbai's Tardeo area have given their undertaking to the BMC's legal department and D ward office that they will adhere to the Bombay High court order to vacate their apartments in three weeks- that is August 27. If the residents fail to vacate the premises by the deadline as per the procedures laid, the BMC administration will start the forceful eviction.

SC Denies Relief, HC Gives Limited Time

After Supreme Court denied any relief to the residents of the high-rise which has a partial occupancy certificate (OC) and no clearance from Mumbai Fire Brigade, the 27 families had approached the HC seeking time to look for alternate accomodation and vacate their existing residences. They also requested to consider the school going students, paryushan followed by the Jain families etc. On August 7, the HC granted three weeks time.

Assistant Municipal Commissioner of D ward, under whose jurisdiction the Willington View CHS falls said, "The secretary of the building, along with the residents from 17 to 34th floor have submitted their undertaking that they will vacate the flats by August 27. If the fail to do so, the BMC will procedure for forceful eviction."

"The job to ensure the said premises is vacated falls with the building & proposal, building & factory, and Fire Brigade. As per procedure, they have submitted their undertaking to legal department and ward office," Valanju added.

Multi-Department Coordination for Eviction

Meanwhile, the concerned departments, including the assesment department of the D ward have been instructed to start due procedures to ensure the flats are vacated as per HC order. "This is one of its kind action in Mumbai where residents from an high-rise in prime locality has been asked to vacate," a civic official said. 

High-Value Loss for Residents

The 27 families, who purchased the flat at cost of around Rs 1 crore each in 2009-10, are losing them, which are now valued at Rs 5 crore each. Some of them have this as their only residence in Mumbai.

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Legal Battle Triggered by Safety Concerns

It was in 2022, a resident of Willington View CHS, Sunil Jhaveri had filed petition in Bombay HC citing illegal construction and lack of safety clearance. The first 16 floors of the 34-storeyed building have OC. While the top floors- 17 to 34 neither have OC nor NOC from the Fire Brigade.

Courts Uphold Rule of Law

In July this year, the HC ordered eviction of the residents from 17-34 floors. The residents approached SC seeking relief, but on August 1, the apex court denied any relief and said 'the rule of law must prevail'. Finally, the HC last week, on humanitarian grounds granted the residents time of three weeks to vacate the flats.