Builders should not violate laws: HC

Taking a stern view against builders violating construction norms,the Bombay High Court on Tuesday said,“A message must go clearly to the builders that nobody should violate the law.” Slamming the tendency of builders to flout rules and then seek regularisation,Justice PB Majmudar said,“People make highrises and then ask for regularisation. It will be a rule of the concrete jungle.”

The court made the observation while hearing a petition filed by Shravan Developers Private Limited that challenged the Municipal Commissioner’s order for recomputing the FSI and possible demolition of lily ponds constructed on alternate floors in an 11-storey building in Juhu. Based on an earlier petition by NGO Gulmohar Area Society Welfare Group,the court had on February 9 asked the Municipal Commissioner to look into the allegations of illegal construction.

The developer’s counsel told the court they got the required sanctions from the former two municipal commissioners. The civic body also filed an affidavit saying the building has been built on the sanctioned plan. However,the third commissioner has taken exception to the lily ponds saying it is against Development Control Rules,he said. The court was told that the lily ponds constructed for aesthetic reasons were being used by residents for bathing.