With the Supreme Court’s recent order backing a July 15, 2025 Bombay High Court’s observation that floors 18 to 34 of the Willingdon Heights Cooperative Housing Society building in Tardeo were constructed without an occupation certificate (OC), 32 families find themselves caught in a storm of legality, helplessness, and heartbreak. On August 6, the apex court had asked residents to submit an undertaking in writing to the Bombay High Court in two days (by Friday) stating that they would follow the directives and vacate the houses within three weeks. The residents submitted the undertaking on Friday, as tensions in the building ran high.

The first 17 floors had received a partial OC, while 18 to 34 lack one. Also, the entire building does not have an NOC from the fire department to date. The entire incident came to light when one of the building’s flat owners filed a case in the Bombay High Court against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The high court’s judgment was subsequently challenged by the affected residents in the apex court. According to the high court’s decision, an extension of three weeks was given to the residents to vacate the homes.

Residents afraid