HC directed the land owner to hand over promised recreation grounds

Mumbai, Sept 13 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the owner of seven plots in Ghatkopar East, North-Central suburb of Mumbai, to handover the same to the Federation of societies as had been undertaken by them.

A division bench comprising Justices R M Lodha and S A Bobde also directed the Garodia Builders (owner) to get the plots, which were given to any other body on rent or for use, vacated and handed over to the Garodia Nagar Welfare Federation.

Of the 145 societies in Garodia Nagar, 103 are members of the Federation.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai had sanctioned the seven plots as recreational grounds in the development plan in 1965. It was conditional for the builder to develop these plots and hand them over to the Federation as per their undertaking to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner But the builders did not do so. Instead, they approached the court today challenging that undertaking.

However, today the court held, 'any body taken unauthorised possession has to go out. The land is to be maintained as recreational ground'.

While one plot is in the possession of the Federation, another vacant plot is to be handed over to the MCGM by November 15 after developing the plot as a garden.

The other five plots, of which one is in possession of Lions Club, one is with Bhajan Samaj Hall, one has fencing and the board of Agrasen Trust, one is occupied and used as secondary school playground and the final one has unauthorised sheds put up by Vaishali Decorators also have to be vacated.

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