• Keeping sleep projects on government land for years is not right, observes the High Court


• Directed to consider resettlement of eligible slum dwellers elsewhere as per need


• The court questioned the delay in the project as the redevelopment was not done even after 20 years

The state government and concerned authorities are not expected to play the role of silent spectators after encroachment on government land. In other words, it is the responsibility of the government to protect the public property and promote its redevelopment in the public interest High Court The stalled projects of the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (Zopu) were dragged on. The government should complete the projects in a time-bound manner without taking the role of 'idle land owner'. If necessary, the court should also consider rehabilitating the eligible slum dwellers and using the land for public purposes.

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While hearing the petitions to Zopu Yojana on about 66 thousand square meters of government land in Chembur. Girish Kulkarni and Ny. Dr. Naula Gokhale's bench recorded these observations. The court clarified that it is not appropriate to stall projects on government land for years due to commercial disputes between private developers.

The slum dwellers do not have the same rights as ownership rights

Although the slum dwellers have the right to resettlement, they do not enjoy the same rights as ownership of government land. The court clarified that mere disagreement is not enough to change the developer but serious legal irregularity is required. Efforts have been going on for this project since August 2006 and even after 20 years not a single brick of redevelopment has been laid. The court noted that due to continuous court disputes, the original purpose of Zopu Yojana is becoming ineffective.

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What is the matter?

Adishakti Developers was appointed as the developer for this project in 2006. In 2008, 2,603 ​​structures were Annex-II certified. Of these, 1,564 structures qualified. After various controversies, Ruparel Buildcon was appointed as the new developer in 2021. They also got the title deed and building permission. After the developer made a huge financial investment, some slum dwellers and organizations challenged the appointment, claiming 51 percent lack of consent. However, the court refused to immediately remove Ruparel saying that the investment made by the developer and the steps taken to take the project forward cannot be ignored.