SC holds Maradu builders liable

Source: thehindu.com

Apex court orders attachment of properties and accounts of builders

Holding the builders of flats in Maradu responsible for illegal constructions, the Supreme Court has ordered the attachment of their properties and bank accounts.

The Bench directed its registry to issue notices to Paul Raj of Alfa Ventures, Sany Francis of Holy Faith Builders and Developers, Sandeep Malik of Jain Housing and Construction Ltd, and K.V. Jose of K.P. Varkey and Builders.

Accepting the 138-day timeline submitted by the Kerala government for completing demolition and clearing of the debris, the court directed the State to begin demolition as per the schedule. The State had offered to begin demolition on October 11. The apex court made it clear that non-compliance with the court’s order would make the Chief Secretary personally liable for the acts.

Holding the builders of flats in Maradu responsible for illegal constructions, the Supreme Court has ordered the attachment of their properties and bank accounts.

The Bench directed its registry to issue notices to Paul Raj of Alfa Ventures, Sany Francis of Holy Faith Builders and Developers, Sandeep Malik of Jain Housing and Construction Ltd, and K.V. Jose of K.P. Varkey and Builders.

Accepting the 138-day timeline submitted by the Kerala government for completing demolition and clearing of the debris, the court directed the State to begin demolition as per the schedule. The State had offered to begin demolition on October 11. The apex court made it clear that non-compliance with the court’s order would make the Chief Secretary personally liable for the acts.

While ordering the State to pay ₹25 lakh each to the apartment owners, the court made it clear that the amount shall be “recoverable from the builder/ promoter/ the persons/ officials responsible for raising the construction.”

A committee headed by former Kerala High Court judge K. Balakrishnan Nair will “look after the payment of the amount to each of the flat owners, as well as to work out the actual amount paid”.

On October 25

The order regarding the compensation was made “without prejudice to other proceedings which may be taken by the flat owners against the builder/ promoter/ persons/ officials responsible for raising the construction for realisation of damages/ compensation”, it said. The court posted the case for October 25.