Kerala HC fines DLF Rs 1 cr, spares building

Kochi: Real estate major DLF on Wednesday got a major reprieve as the Kerala High Court ruled that while it need not demolish its multi-storied apartment complex here but slapped a Rs 1 crore fine.

A division bench, by this verdict, overruled the earlier single bench verdict that all the portions of the building that had violated the norms have to be razed down.

While the new order will come as a huge relief for DLF, the court ordered them to pay a fine of Rs 1 crore which will be utilised for the state government for environment related activities.

Petitioner A.V. Antony had approached the high court, complaining that the basic rules with regards to the Coastal Regulation Zone Act was flouted by the builders. The issue raised a furore in the Kerala Assembly in 2014 when with the Congress-led Oommen Chandy government was in power, and the the then CPI-M-led Left opposition alleging that all rules were being allowed to be violated as it was Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi who was behind this project.

The prestigious apartment complex was almost complete in 2014 with many of the flats already bought by people and it was one reason why the DLF escaped with a fine.

After hearing the new verdict, Antony said that it was a strange one and he will now approach the Supreme Court in appeal.