NGO challenges eviction notice

Comet Media Foundation, an NGO working to educate children and housed in the Topiwala Land Building at Lamington Road in south Mumbai, has approached the Bombay high court challenging the eviction notice issued by the civic body.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had issued eviction notices to the NGOs and sealed office premises of Comet Media and eight other NGOs operating from Topiwala Land Building, saying the building was dilapidated and needed to be demolished. The school tribunal, which resolves school-related issues, is also housed in the same building and has not been functioning for the last few days.

The petition said the NGOs were leased premises in the building by the civic body between 1986 and 2004 after the corporation closed its school in 1980s.

The corporation issued them eviction notice in March 2010.

Dignity Foundation and one more NGO challenged the eviction notice and obtained a status quo in November 2010. However, the BMC issued a final demolition order on February 4 and sealed the premises.