HC steps in to save Walkeshwar society residents being forced into redevelopment

Navyug Sagar CHS Ltd in Walkeshwar has 11 flats and is spread over 242272 sqm PicSameer MarkandeIn a major embarrassment for the registrar office the deputy registrar had to submit an unconditional apology before the high court over unethical practices in a South Mumbai housing society The deputy registrar not only didnt conduct society elections as per norms but also forced the society to go under redevelopment with a wellknown builder The 2015 matter came to light after residents of the seafacing 40yearold society in Walkeshwar fought with the system and moved the Bombay High CourtMusical chairsThe irregularities happened in Navyug Sagar CHS Ltd which as 11 flats and is spread over 242272 sqm On September 5 2015 a resident asked then deputy registrar of D ward to dissolve the society committee over mismanagement Jaydeep Salunkhe was appointed as the authorised officer to carry out daily work of the societyOn September 18 nine out of the 11 members submitted a request letter to the deputy registrar to appoint a returning officer so that election for the committee could be held however nothing came out of that even after reminders and a Special General Meeting SGM on November 27Then an SGM held on January 23 2016 suddenly raised the topic of societys redevelopment On March 17 Ganesh Dongre was appointed the authorised officer who failed to take care of the societys daytoday work leading to nonpayment of bills Then on July 26 U D Pingle was appointed the authorised officerAll of a sudden Pingle formed a redevelopment committee and made himself its chairman This is against the law as redevelopment doesnt come under the registrar office Also nonmembers were included in the committee said Advocate Khan Javed AkhtarThe last strawOn September 22 2016 Sandeep Khot was appointed the authorised officer followed by appointment of deputy registrar Dr Sunil Kothawale as chairman of the redevelopment committee on October 6To the residents shock an SGM was called on June 11 2017 to appoint a developer This was finalised without any intimation to the residents no information was shared with society members So in November 2017 we took the matter to the high court which questioned Kothawale for not following tje Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act added KhanObserving that wrongdoings had taken place HC sought a reply from Kothawale who then submitted an affidavit accepting that the Act and rules were not followed for conducting society election He tendered a sincere and unconditional apology for the manner in which the election process was initiatedV for victoryAbhay Kumar Daga a residentMany wrongdoings were happening in the society which forced us to move court Finally we have got justice we are happyA residentIts a prime property worth hundreds of crores many developers have their eye on it Had we residents not been united our society would have gone under redevelopment and we would all be in a transit camp right nowCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates