The Hindu Business Line : SC stay on Dunlop House demolition comes after it is demolished

REMAINS OF THE DAY: The skeletal remains of `Dunlop House' building in Kolkata on Thursday. The demolition process, almost completed by its new owners, has been stayed by the Supreme Court through an order on Wednesday. - A. Roy Chowdhury

Kolkata , Sep. 14

Courts, including the apex court, have been moved to prevent the demolition of the three-storied Dunlop House in Central Kolkata, after it has been legally acquired by Pataka Industries Ltd.

Hectic efforts are on to bestow a heritage title on the vintage property, perhaps a bit late. The property was acquired by Pataka for Rs 10.75 crore through a sale deed executed by Dunlop India on August 14, 2004, pursuant to orders by BIFR and AAIFR.

Interim Order

The Kolkata International Foundation of Arts, Literature and Culture, on September 13, 2006, moved a writ petition before the Supreme Court and secured an ex parte interim order to stop demolition of the building till the Court decides the case. Hearing is set for September 25, 2006. But even as hectic efforts are on to bestow heritage status on the vintage property, the building in question has already been demolished, and only the bare skeletal remains still stand on the half-acre plot.

Senior management sources in Pataka House confirmed that demolition work was started after due information was given to the Building Department of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on May 15, 2006.

Pataka Group sources confirmed that the company intended to construct a new head office building on the site. The property mutation process was completed on May 25, 2005.

Demolition

Senior management personnel of Pataka, when contacted by Business Line, confirmed that demolition of the building, after fulfilling all legal formalities, has been completed. Asked about the apex court order, they said the company's lawyers were studying the situation. The Calcutta High Court, in a recent order, had stayed the operation of a notice issued by KMC (on June 26, 2006) directing Pataka Industries to stop demolition work, when the process was half way through. The court, it is learnt, stayed the KMC notice on the ground that it was issued apparently in excess of jurisdiction, on the face of it. The matter is expected to come up for further hearing in the High Court on November 2, 2006.

More Stories on : Courts/Legal Issues | Real Estate & Construction

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page