Adarsh flats not taken over, Centre tells SC

The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that out of 104 flats constructed by Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society,  93 were still locked, affecting complete takeover of the building.

A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and Abhay Manohar Sapre, however, asked the society to consider bearing the expenses to be incurred on maintenance of the 28-storey scam-tainted building.

The court had earlier directed the Centre to take over possession of the building.
A counsel, appearing for the society, sought direction to the Centre to ensure maintenance of the building as there was no power connection and hence, the lifts were not working and there would be safety concerns in case of any mishap.

Various equipment including lifts, power generator, fire-fighting equipment and a pump house, installed in the apartment premises, are not working at present, the counsel for the society said.

“You will have to bear the expenditure to be incurred on maintenance, only then we will ask the Centre,” the bench said,  adding “the choice is with you. If you want to pay, then we will ask the Centre to do the needful.”

During the hearing, the bench also said if the society won the case, then why would it ask the Centre to pay for  maintenance.

The court asked the counsel for the housing society to take instruction and apprise it on September 2 as to whether it was willing to pay for the maintenance.

The apex court had on July 22 asked the Centre to secure possession of Adarsh apartments, built at Colaba in posh South Mumbai locality, for Kargil war heros and war widows.