Kerala High Court stays demolition of Chander Kunj Army Towers

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday issued a stay on the demolition of the twin towers of the Chander Kunj Army Towers at Vyttila, developed by the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO).

The temporary stay was ordered on an appeal filed by P.K. Unique Projects Limited, which was placed first in the financial bidding for the tender of work for the demolition. The appeal was sought against a Single Bench order directing the committee led by the District Collector to proceed with the demolition by Edifice Engineering, which had been placed second in the financial bid.

The court said that the district administration could proceed with the preparatory works prior to the demolition. However, the demolition should be stopped till the Single Bench conducts a detailed hearing and takes a final decision on the matter.

Earlier, the petitioner company had sought a direction from the Single Bench to issue a “confirmation of work” for the demolition and to stay the committee’s decision to finalise the tender for demolition in favour of the other firm. The State had then contended that the contract was awarded to Edifice Engineering considering its technical expertise in the safe demolition of buildings without any impact on adjacent structures, and that Edifice had worked on the demolition of four apartment complexes at Maradu.

Citing significant structural issues, the High Court had ordered the demolition and reconstruction of the towers earlier this month, which had apartments owned by 208 people.