Army towers association files contempt plea as owner refuses to vacate

In an unexpected turn of events, the Chander Kunj Army Towers Apartment Owners Association (CATAOA) has filed a contempt of court petition in the Kerala High Court against an apartment owner for refusing to vacate his flat, even after all the other 207 owners moved out of their apartments earmarked for demolition and reconstruction as per the court order.

CATAOA moved the petition before the same bench where apartment owner Ciby George, a resident of apartment number 101 in Tower C, had filed a contempt petition against the district collector for alleged non-compliance with the court’s verdict regarding the evacuation, demolition, and reconstruction of the twin towers. In August, the court had disposed of a writ appeal filed by the association and a few owners against the February 3 verdict of a Single Bench of the Kerala High Court — which had ordered demolition and reconstruction on grounds of serious structural problems — along with several related review petitions.

The committee chaired by the Collector is required to pay affected residents six months’ advance rent of ₹35,000 per month to owners in C Tower, ₹30,000 to owners in B Tower, and ₹30,000 as relocation charges, using funds transferred by the Army Welfare Housing Organisation into an escrow account held by the collector. Mr. George, a retired army colonel, continues to stay in his apartment, claiming he has not yet received the advance rent and relocation charges.

However, CATAOA office-bearers said they moved the petition after confirming that Mr. George had been paid three months’ rent from the escrow account, while the remaining three months were presumably deducted because he continued to stay in his own apartment during that period. “Our primary concern is his personal safety. A large chunk of concrete recently collapsed from the ceiling of the Tower C lobby. The association cannot be held responsible for his safety simply because he refuses to vacate. His reluctance is also disrupting the entire project schedule, as the twin towers were to be handed over to the tahsildar after all residents had evacuated. Moreover, utilities and infrastructure now have to be maintained solely for him, funded through collective maintenance charges,” said CATAOA office‑bearers.

While Mr. George admitted receiving ₹1.05 lakh in his account, he said there was no clarity on whether it was meant as advance rent or compensation, which he had demanded. He rejected the allegation that his continued stay had disrupted the project timeline, arguing that no steps had yet been taken to even finalise a demolition contractor. “I will move out the moment I am paid the advance rent and relocation charges,” he said.