Mumbai: Campa Cola eviction today, ordinance only way out

As the countdown to demolition begins, only 10 of the 96 illegal flats in Mumbai’s Campa Cola Housing Society have been vacated as  the residents’ fight found support from retired judges of the Supreme Court and Bombay high court. Former Judge, Supreme Court of India and Justice V G Palshikar(Retd.), Mumbai High Court said that Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has the power to pass an ordinance inspite of the Supreme Court order against the Campa Cola Compound residents. Late on Sunday, Rajiv Nerula, Advocate said “Today we have submitted the two legal opinions to Chief Miniter and both the legal opinion point out that Campa Cola Compound can be regularised within the law and it will not be contempt of court”. On 8 November, a group of residents along with Milind Deora, Member of Parliament and Amin Patel, MLA met Chavan. However, the CM offred little respite saying he is ’exploring all legal options to help the residents, and it would be helpful if the residents could also help in procuring legal opinions from senior counsels’ The  police on Sunday issued a notice to occupants of illegal floors. The notice, issued by senior police inspector Deepak More, warned the occupants of action under section 149 of CrPc if any law and order issue is created during eviction, the deadline for which expires today. The police notice also states that the residents concerned should avoid indulging in any activity that would fall in the ambit of cognizable offence or to put up resistance against demolition staff or other officials. It warns of strict action against those who do not abide by the directions. [caption id=“attachment_1017163” align=“alignright” width=“380”]  Residents of Campa Cola Society in Mumbai[/caption] On October 1, the Supreme Court ordered the residents to vacate illegal flats, above the fifth floor of all the seven buildings within the premises, by November 11. The BMC had issued eviction notices to residents of the illegal floors under Section 488 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act two days back. “As the said time period expires on November 11, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has organized demolition of the premises on November 12,” the BMC notice had stated. As many as 100 families are occupying illegal floors. There are 35 illegal floors in seven buildings of the housing society.