MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has instructed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to investigate the nearly 20-year delay in implementing a slum rehabilitation scheme in Wadala West, and to report on its expected completion date.
“It is unacceptable for SRA schemes on public land to be executed with such negligence, especially after 20 years of implementation,” remarked a bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe on Monday.
This directive came after the court resolved a petition from Sitabai Kolambkar and Wadala Village Welfare CHSL, which sought to nullify an April 2024 order from the joint registrar of the cooperative department, SRA, that denied their application for transit rent at the prevailing market rates, as outlined in a June 2015 circular. This circular states that transit rent should increase annually by 5% until the developer provides permanent alternative accommodation.
The judges noted the absence of the development agreement in the record and its irrelevant mention in relation to transit rent. They stated that any related claims must originate from this agreement, and in its absence, the SRA’s competent authority should address issues according to the 2015 circular concerning transit rent eligibility.
Thus, the court ordered the competent authority to reach a swift decision within four weeks, taking into account the claims of both the society and the developer, Merit Magnum Construction (formerly Vimal Builders), as well as the relevant documents including the development agreement.
In conclusion, the judges emphasized that the land in question belongs to the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). Senior advocate Naushad Engineer, representing the petitioners, informed the court about the ongoing development lasting about two decades. Consequently, the judges directed the CEO to “investigate the reasons for this delay,” stressing that this should encompass all significant factors hindering the scheme’s progress.
Moreover, the judges referenced a prior observation that the municipal corporation, as the landowner, cannot remain passive. Hence, they instructed the BMC chief to address this matter with the SRA CEO and to document the status regarding the municipal land related to the slum development. The proceedings have been scheduled for compliance by the CEO and the civic chief on November 17.
This version maintains the original meaning while improving clarity and organization.
