The Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) on Friday sought before the Bombay High Court a dismissal of the appeal of Air India Staff Colony Association, which claimed that MIAL had illegally initiated the action of demolition of the 19 vacant buildings at the Air India Colony in Kalina in suburban Mumbai.
A single-judge bench of Justice Rajesh N Laddha has asked parties to maintain status quo in the matter till February 5, when HC is likely to pass an order.
The Air India colony is spread over a 184-acre land parcel and houses 350 families who were employed with the airline and are against the handover.
The MIAL argued that the land on which the colony was situated was leased to it and was required for Airport expansion. The MIAL said no loss or damage will be caused to the structures of nearly 300 families occupying other buildings and expansion of the airport, which is already congested, is required in ‘public interest’.
The MIAL on January 26 had made a statement that it will not take any coercive steps against the 19 suit structures till January 29 and the same was later continued till February 2.
The Association’s plea challenged the January 25, 2024 order of the Dindoshi City Civil court that refused to grant an ad-interim relief in favour of the Association.
As part of its expansion plan, the Adani Airports controlled MIAL had initiated demolition of 19 vacant buildings at the Air India Colony amid protests by Air India employees.
The land on which the colony was built was owned by the state government and was leased to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) which had given the land to Air India. Adani Airports controlled MIAL, which controls the airport, had sought the land back from Air India for expansion of the airport.
The employees claimed that while they did not oppose redevelopment they should not lose company benefits including colony accommodation facilities.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 03-02-2024 at 06:59 IST
