65-yr-old transit camp resident gets HC relief

A 65-year-old woman, who has been residing in a transit camp for the last 25 years —after Mhada declared her building on Falkland Road dangerous for habitation — has been given a ray of hope.

A 65-year-old woman, who has been residing in a transit camp for the last 25 years —after Mhada declared her building on Falkland Road dangerous for habitation — has been given a ray of hope.

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The Bombay high court on Tuesday granted Mhada two months time to take a decision on Bakrunnisa Pistawala’s plea for permanent accommodation. The directive came after counsel representing Mhada, GW Mattos, assured that the authority will examine if Pistawala was eligible for the allotment.

Mattos said Mhada will include Pistawala’s name in the waiting list. If she is held eligible a flat will be allotted to her as per seniority, he added

On May 21, 1982 Mhada had declared Usman Building dangerous for habitation, and all the occupants, including Pistawala, were ordered to vacate their tenements immediately.

The housing authority had provided Pistawalas temporary accommodation in a transit camp in Vikhroli on November 7, 1983, where she lives with her four children.

Pistawala requested Mhada several times to allot her an alternate accommodation the size of her original flat — admeasuring 600 sqft. She moved the high court after her requests were ignored and sought a direction to Mhada to give her a flat in the building that was constructed in place of the dilapidated one.

Her petition adds that in 2002, her husband, Fakir, expired and since then the family had been trying to get back their residence.