Cambata building sealed over non-payment of dues to workers

Mumbai city collector Ashwini Joshi today sealed the Cambata building opposite Churchgate railway station, which houses Eros Theatre and several offices.
The action comes against Cambata Aviation for non payment of pending dues of their employees since February 2015.
The affected workers have sought political intervention and approached various leaders including the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and social activist Anjali Damania.
Around 1,200 Cambata employees had earlier moved the city labour court against the management. The labour court ordered to seal and lock the the premises of the city's oldest theatre, Eros cinema and other 24 adjoining shops on the ground floor. This order also includes corporate offices in this round-shaped building.

Vishwas Gujar, Mumbai city tehsildar said that due to the non-payment by Cambata Aviation, the Collector office was ordered by the labour court to seal the premises.
"Cambata Aviation has failed to pay arrears of their employees, therefore the labour court asked us to seal their properties and enforce them to the pending dues of their employees, which is nearly Rs 4.45 crore. Since Eros building is a government property given on lease, the authority is the collector, hence we have followed the court's order," Gujar said.

However, the order and sealing of premises has shocked the tenants situated in the building.

"We do not have the details of this order and nobody gave us any prior intimation. Some officials came here and pasted the order copies on our office doors and asked us to shut down the shutters. It is was very embarrassing and now we are helpless," said one of the employees of Surajmal Lallubhai and Co Jewellers.
For Eros theatre, there is no major film release this week, though it is a huge setback for this single screen cinema as Shahrukh Khan starrer "Raees" will release next week.
"We are lucky that "Raees" is not releasing this week, since Shahrukh Khan fans might have staged protests. It would be difficult to handle crowds at such a time," said Mangal Sawant, an employee of the Eros cinema.