The Bombay High Court issued a series of directions to the Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority (MHADA) officials on Tuesday, to ensure that the dilapidated 150-year-old Esplanade Mansion is completely evacuated and doesn’t pose a threat to pedestrians. Four days after the deadline to vacate it, MHADA officials said while 104 tenants have moved out, 64 others still occupy the galas and have locks of their own on the doors.

'Open locks, remove belongings'

Justices SC Dharmadhikari and GS Patel directed MHADA officials to open the locks, remove the belongings and store them at a safe location. "People should not continue to live in that building. Kindly remove the belongings, prepare an inventory and issue notices to the tenants, circulate them in the newspapers and put the notice on the building," said Justice Dharmadhikari during the hearing. Prakash Lad, the advocate who represents MHADA, said that the officials will remove any remaining belongings of tenants within the next eight days and store them at the transit camp locations, possibly at Colaba or Sion.