Mumbai municipal commissioner appears before high court

Mumbai municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta today appeared before the Bombay High Court and assured that the court's directions on a plea by some tenants of a building in south Mumbai would be complied with.

Vacation judge Justice S J Kathawala had summoned Mehta after the civic body failed to comply with directions passed by the court on a petition filed by tenants of the century-old Bhatia Building in south Mumbai.

Mehta today appeared before Justice Kathawala, and assured the judge that the corporation would follow the court's orders and submit a report.

The tenants had alleged that the landlords were carrying out unauthorised construction on the ground floor which had damaged the building's foundation beams.

Last month, the landlords assured the court that they would not carry out further work, and would repair the damage caused to the foundation.

The petition had also claimed that excavation work on a plot behind the building was also causing cracks.

The high court then directed that a committee of experts from the municipal corporation and the state housing agency MHADA should visit the building and ensure that no excavation work was carried out.

The court asked the committee to submit a report.

However, the court was informed two days ago that excavation work on the plot was still going on.

The revelation invited the court's wrath on the municipal body.

The authorities were putting tenants' lives in danger, Justice Kathawala said, asking the commissioner to be present.