August 29, 2025: After months of resistance, residents of the top 18 floors of the 34-storey Willingdon View CHS in Tardeo finally vacated their homes on Thursday, a day after the Bombay High Court’s deadline of August 27. Twenty-nine families have now moved out, either to lodges or to their hometowns, while the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) prepares inspections to confirm that the flats have been vacated and locked.
The High Court’s order of August 3 required residents of floors 17 to 34 to vacate as the building lacks a full occupancy certificate (OC) and does not possess a fire department no-objection certificate. Only the first 16 floors currently hold an OC. Although the court granted a brief extension on humanitarian grounds, residents had been compelled to submit undertakings to comply. The BMC warned that non-compliance would lead to the flats being sealed with police protection.
In a last attempt, residents protested outside the Byculla fire brigade headquarters and secured a fire compliance letter. However, their interim plea for more time was dismissed by the court, leaving them with little choice but to vacate.
The matter has since drawn political attention. Cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene, arguing that residents had been deceived by the builder, M/s Satellite Holdings, and should not bear the consequences. He confirmed that the chief minister has directed the BMC to issue the long-pending OC, stressing that citizens should not face injustice due to developer malpractice.
Meanwhile, residents expressed anguish at being displaced. Society secretary Arun Shivhare criticised the lack of humanitarian support, pointing out that families are scattered across towns such as Nashik and Dhule, with children forced to leave schools. Others lamented the financial strain, citing inflated taxes, water charges, and the difficulty of finding rental homes amidst widespread redevelopment.
With the next court hearing scheduled for September 2, residents remain anxious, fearing contempt proceedings despite their compliance. For many, the episode underscores the precarious position of thousands of Mumbai homeowners still awaiting long-delayed occupancy certificates.
Source: Hindustan Times
