HC slams administrator's actions, orders South Mumbai society office unsealed

MUMBAI: In a relief to residents of Grand Paradi, a landmark highrise at Kemps Corner in South Mumbai, a day after an administrator sealed the housing society's office, the Bombay high court noting his unseemly haste in doing so, directed it to be immediately unsealed.

Sachin Sheth and nine other members of the managing committee of the Grand Paradi cooperative housing society had moved HC on Friday. They had challenged an order of cooperative minister, Subhash Deshmukh, in appointing an administrator and his swift action in sealing the office. On December 6, the minister, as an appellate authority, directed that an administrator be appointed after a dispute over excessive transfer fees of Rs 34 lakh from members was escalated to him.

Justice Gautam Patel, before whom the committee counsel J P Sen sought urgent relief, observed, "The order passed only two days ago was sought to be implemented peremptorily. Yesterday (December 7) the administrator sealed the society's office.'' The state's lawyer informed the court that the "administrator will proceed at once to unseal that office, no later than by noon on Saturday.''

Justice Patel also directed the administrator not to take any further action till January 9. Justice Patel in a cutting observation said, "In the one day that he was enthroned, the administrator had sent letters to the society's banks.'' The HC directed him to now "immediately write to all banks requesting them not to act on his previous letter pending further communication.''

Y S Jahagirdar appearing for ordinary members of the society, who were the original complainants against the high-handedness of the managing committee, said that the minister's order to appoint the administrator was justified. The matter will now be listed before an appropriate bench for hearing on December 15. Mont Blanc Properties had built Grand Paradi's iconic three towers and 14 row houses four decades ago.

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