For posterity sake the building will have to be preserved: court Taking into consideration the historical significance of Sardar Griha building on L T Marg,where Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak breathed his last almost 90 years ago,the Bombay High Court on Thursday restrained the tenants from obstructing the repair works. An ugly ownership dispute between the tenants has this dilapidated heritage structure hanging on tenterhooks as the urgently required structural repairs have been delayed for years. Justice S C Dharmadhikari on Thursday directed that all efforts will have to be made to preserve the building and has asked the chief engineer of Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority (MHADA) and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and a structural engineer to inspect the building,along with a representative each from the tenants association and Roopam Fashion Private Limited,on December 28. The court has said that the repairs that have to be carried out will have to be identified and ordered that it should commence by January 31,2010 and complete the work within a year thereon. MHADA counsel G W Mattos informed the court that the repair cess was not paid to the municipal corporation since 2002. Mattos pointed out that a sum of Rs 67,39,558 was due from the tenants along with Rs 6,37,147 towards property tax. In view of this,the court asked BMC to raise the demand to the court receiver for payment of dues. The tenants association has moved a suit against Roopam which is seeking ownership of the building. Following the dispute the court had earlier appointed a court receiver (CR). CR had filed a report in July this year stating that the repairs could not be carried out as the tenants were not cooperating. Mattos told the court that the housing board has completed all formalities to carry out the repair work but could not do so because of the obstruction from tenants. The court while restraining the tenants granted liberty to air their grievances to the CR who would then place it before MHADA. Justice Dharmadhikari has made it clear that the engineer will have to finish the work within the time frame. The judge observed that for posterity sake the building will have to be preserved taking into consideration that Tilak had breathed his last there. Tilak in Sardar Griha* Sardar Griha was originally a hotel,with Tilak a frequent patron* He spent his last days in the rooms given to him by the owner.* On July 29,1920,Gandhi visited Tilak at about 6 pm,returning after midnight on hearing of his death* Huge crowds gathered around Sardar Grihathe photograph is still displayed in the Tilak Smarak Trust office on the fourth floorto pay their last respects on August 1,1920.
