Deadline over! Residents of 34 flats forced to vacate Tardeo’s Wellingdon society

by Webdesk
29 Aug 2025

Wellingdon Housing Society Residents Vacate 34 Flats in Tardeo After HC Deadline

Mumbai witnessed emotional scenes on Thursday as nearly 34 families from the Wellingdon Housing Society in Tardeo were compelled to vacate their homes following the expiry of the Bombay High Court’s deadline. The directive concerned the eviction of the top 18 floors of the 34-storey building, which has long been under scrutiny for multiple irregularities.

The families, suddenly left without their homes, sought urgent intervention. Distressed residents met Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, pleading for some form of relief. Later in the day, the chief minister instructed civic authorities to initiate the process of issuing necessary documents, offering a glimmer of hope to those affected.

The eviction followed the High Court’s firm refusal to grant any further extensions to the residents. Earlier, the court had made it clear that allowing more time would send a “completely wrong message.” The HC had, on July 15, strongly criticised the residents of the top 18 floors, describing them as “selfish” for having carried on with “blatant irregularities” for several years. The judges observed that the residents seemed unconcerned about their own safety or that of others.

The Supreme Court had recently upheld this HC order while appreciating the judiciary’s stance against illegal construction. At the same time, the apex court allowed the petitioners to return to the High Court to request more time to vacate. Acting on this, the society’s senior advocate, Dinyar Madon, argued on August 6 that 27 families staying across the disputed 18 floors were struggling to find alternative accommodation within such a short span.

Sympathetic to their situation, the HC had granted a three-week extension. But when the residents filed yet another plea seeking additional time, the court turned down the request earlier this week. With no option left, residents packed up their belongings and vacated the flats on Thursday.

Throughout the day, emotional scenes unfolded around the building’s lobby. Families stood with their luggage, uncertain about where to go next. Many shifted temporarily to their relatives’ homes. Narendra Bhandari, chairman of Wellingdon CHS, explained the plight: “Most of the residents are now staying with relatives. My family and I have moved into my nephew’s place. Kya karein ab, yeh humari majboori hai (What else can we do, this is our helplessness).”

Municipal authorities were quick to confirm compliance with the HC order. Assistant municipal commissioner Manish Valanju said that a thorough inspection was carried out on Thursday. “We found that all the flats from the 18th to the 34th floors were vacated and locked. The problem originated because these upper floors did not have an Occupation Certificate (OC). During fire inspections, it was also discovered that there was no Fire NOC in place.”

Interestingly, earlier this week, residents managed to obtain a Fire Brigade NOC, while officials indicated that other pending compliances are being addressed. The lack of required certifications had long cast a shadow on the legality of the upper storeys, ultimately leading to the HC’s harsh intervention.

With Ganesh Chaturthi festivities echoing across Mumbai, the timing of the eviction felt especially bitter for the affected families. On Thursday afternoon, several residents, still grappling with their displacement, approached both the CM and the civic commissioner, pleading for a permanent resolution. In response, Chief Minister Fadnavis assured them that once all formal compliances are in place, directions had been given to issue an OC.

The residents welcomed the chief minister’s instructions, expressing cautious optimism. “This is a big relief for us,” said society chairman Bhandari. “It means we can now directly approach the building proposal department and finally work towards securing the Occupation Certificate we have been fighting for all these years.”

For the families, the forced evacuation marks both a painful chapter and a potential turning point. While they temporarily stay at relatives’ homes, their focus now shifts toward completing the compliance process and restoring legitimacy to their dream homes.

The saga of the Wellingdon Housing Society serves as yet another stark reminder of the risks of unauthorised construction in Mumbai’s ever-expanding skyline. It highlights not only the importance of regulatory approvals but also the human cost when compliance is overlooked.

Image Courtesy:

02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

Deadline over! Residents of 34 flats forced to vacate Tardeo’s Wellingdon society

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