Poonam Nath

2 Army housing towers in Kochi to be demolished; orders from Kerala High Court

Digital Desk: The Kerala High Court ordered the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) to demolish Towers B and C of Chander Kunj Army Towers in response to a case brought by Silver Sand Island residents and the unit owners' association against AWHO.

The Kerala High Court has ordered the destruction and renovation of two residential towers that house Army soldiers in Vyttila, Kochi, citing major safety issues.

The petitioners claimed that poor construction quality caused structural instability, seepage, and water leaking in the structures. Inspection reports found that there was no proper quality control during construction since there was no documentation of required material tests for steel, cement, and aggregates.

Residents claimed that they had spent their hard-earned money on the flats and held AWHO accountable for subpar building quality.

Justice Mohammed Nias CP emphasized in his ruling that the towers' distress was "undeniably human-induced," resulting in severe loss and suffering.

After reviewing expert studies and relevant legal regulations such as the Kerala Municipalities Act, Kerala Municipality Building Rules, and the Disaster Management Act, the court determined that demolition and reconstruction were the only viable options for preventing deaths and saving lives.

AWHO has been ordered to compensate inhabitants of Towers B and C Rs. 21,000 and Rs. 23,000 per month, respectively, for alternate housing till the rebuilding is complete.

Additionally, the organization must spend Rs 175 crores following the committee's recommendations.

The court was especially concerned that Army soldiers were the victims of these errors, emphasizing that all authorities, including military leaders, must maintain the greatest standards of safety and dignity for service members. "Any lapse in these standards can erode confidence, undermine morale, and create feelings of injustice among service members," the court stated.