Mumbai: HC to the rescue of 83-year-old stuck in creaky building

Officials of Adani Power at Stone Castle society on Thursday. Pics/Satej Shinde

After mid-day's reports about the condition of an 83-year-old woman who has been forced to live without water and electricity in her 40-year-old building, the Bombay High Court took action and got the supply restarted. Judge Milind N. Jadhav heard the case of Stone Castle society members and ordered on May 5 that power and water supply be resumed in the building immediately.

Celine Sequeira at her residence

After mid-day's report, Celine Sequeira got help not just from the residents of her locality but also from overseas. Around three people called her and offered their help. IC Colony helped the woman with food, groceries and Sneha Thakre, a resident of Pune, ordered a battery-powered fan and light for Sequeira.

On Thursday, employees of Adani Power restarted the electricity of Stone Castle society in IC Colony and the civic body resumed water supply after receiving the court order.

Sequeira told mid-day, "I am really thankful to mid-day for helping me. I got electricity and water in my house after a month. It's summertime and it's too difficult to live without a fan. Now I can cook at home. The church helped me a lot after reading mid-day's report. I also received calls from the US. The people said they are with me and help if I need anything. I believe that humanity is still alive. BMC and police should help all senior citizens and not leave them in dire situations."

The court hearing

On Wednesday, Stone Castle Co-operative housing society's members attended an online hearing in the case they had filed against the developer, Chauhan Group, the society committee and the civic body.

Adani Power officials resume electricity in Stone Castle society on Thursday

The case was heard by Bombay High Court Judge Milind N. Jadhav. He told the members that the redevelopment issue is kept aside for now and ordered that the electricity and water supply be restored.

To help Judge Jadhav understand their condition amid the pandemic, they also showed them mid-day's reports. After the order of the high court, local corporator Vinod Ghosalkar, too, urged the BMC to restore the connections.

The redevelopment case

With the water supply restored, Celine Sequeira will be able to cook at home

The Stone Castle society is around 40 years old and stuck in redevelopment-related litigation. It was declared as a C1 category (dangerous structure needing demolition) building by the civic body, which asked residents to vacate the premises and ordered for the structure to be pulled down. However, around 28 of the 57 society members are against the redevelopment and 13 had moved court. The society members got a private firm to audit the building. The auditor categorised the building as C-2B (needs immediate repairs).

May 5
Day the high court ordered restoration of power, water

57
No. of members in Stone Castle society

28
No. of members who are against redevelopment

13
No. of members who moved court