HC warns citizen's body against "frivolous" PIL on highrise

The Bombay High Court today warned the Altamount Road Area Citizens Committee, which has filed a PIL against the construction of a multi-storey residential tower in South Mumbai, of inviting serious consequences if their allegations are found lacking in substance.
The citizens committee had in June 2013 filed the PIL alleging that the permissions granted to the project are illegal and arbitrary and that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has showed undue favours to the builder, Krishna Developers.
Senior counsel Pesi Modi, appearing for the petitioners, today argued before a division bench of Justices V M Kanade and G S Kulkarni that time and again the civic body has been modifying the permissions granted to the building despite blatant violations.

Senior counsel Dinyar Madon, representing the developer, however, refuted the allegations and said "the petitioner in his petition has claimed the building is 36-storey high with 16 floor parking. This is wrong. The building is just 16 floors. Construction is complete. The BMC has also said in a letter that there are no violations".
The court posted the petition for hearing after two weeks and said the petitioner will have to face consequences if the allegations are frivolous.
"If in the end we feel that the allegations are wrong, then you (petitioner) will have to pay a heavy cost. You should be ready to face the consequences if the claims in the petition are wrong," Justice Kulkarni said.

According to the petition, there is a little space between the upcoming tower and adjoining buildings, which would make it difficult for emergency vehicles to enter.