MUMBAI: Bombay high court, in an interim order, halted a mega redevelopment project involving rehabilitation of around 170 tenants of Pardiwala Chawl, Lower Parel. Justice Kalpathi Shriram restrained the developer from commencing with or carrying out development till the matter was decided. The court was hearing an application by two tenants, whose tenancy was disputed by Renaissance Homes. Palash Corporation and Sakhsi Enterprises, which claimed to be non-cessed tenants, said the builder should not be allowed to demolish their structures without executing the agreement to provide them alternate accommodation.
The developer said 111 of the 153 residential tenants and eight non-cessed tenants had vacated the property.
"I am surprised at this stage with the stand of (developer), who are even disputing, against such overwhelming prima facie evidence, that the plaintiffs were even tenants. They have made out a prima facie case to be tenants," said the judge. The developer alleged that the two were were trying to extort money by obstructing redevelopment.