Mumbai: Bombay High Court has directed the
civic authorities to complete repairs of Sardar-Griha in south
Mumbai where Lokmanya Tilak breathed his last.
Tilak passed away in this building on August 1, 1920.
The building badly needs structural repair, but
authorities told the court that because of the dispute between
tenants and a shop-owner, repair work had been stalled.
Justice S C Dharmadhikari yesterday directed that the
building must be preserved, and asked the chief engineer of
Maharashtra Housing And Area Development Authority (MHADA) and
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to inspect the
building before month-end.
The repair work must start by January 31, 2010 and
complete the work within a year, the judge said.
The tenants of the building had filed a suit against
Roopam Fashion Pvt Ltd which was allegedly trying to take over
the building, following which a court receiver was appointed.
The court receiver had filed a report in July this year
stating that the repairs could not be carried out because the
tenants were not cooperating. MHADA, which looks after old
dilapidated buildings, had taken the same stand.
Justice Dharmadhikari observed that building will have to
be preserved, as it has historical significance.
Sardar-Griha housed a lodge in those days, and Tilak
often stayed there whenvever he visited Mumbai.
-PTI
