The continuous legal efforts of the apartment owners in Kochi who are living in buildings constructed violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, seems to be going in vain as the Supreme Court (SC) stands firm on its ruling that the building needs to be demolished. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected yet another writ petition from the apartment owners, one filed by a resident of Jain Housing.
The SC in a verdict on May 8 ordered that four apartments in Kochi located in Maradu municipality limits need to be demolished as they have been built violating CRZ norms. Multiple pleas including review petitions and writ petitions were filed by builders and residents of the apartments to reconsider the verdict, but all have been in vain. The writ petition which the SC rejected on Friday was the latest. It was filed by Manoj Kodiyan, an apartment owner of Jain Housing.
Not only did the SC reject it, but a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra also stated that the court will impose a fine on the petitioner if the arguments continue further.
The petition had asked the SC to reconsider the May 8 order to demolish the buildings and also to take action against government officials associated with the local body. But the apex court rejected both the pleas.
The court also told the petitioners that everything had been mentioned clearly in the demolition order.
Before this, the court had rejected a writ petition and a review petition as well.
As per the May 8 order, four apartment buildings, namely Golden Kayaloram, Jain Housing, Alfa Ventures and Holy Faith apartments, have to be demolished. Holiday Heritage, another apartment building which is yet to be constructed is also said to be violating CRZ norms, according to the SC verdict.