Important Update from SUGRUHA

[Aggarwal, Vivek IN BLR SISL]

 

South City Group Housing Apartment Owners' Association

(SUGRUHA)

 

Registered Under KAOA: No. BNG(U)-JPN/82/2009-10

1st Floor, Club House, South City, Off: Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 560076

 

Dear Fellow Apartment Owners:

 

Greetings from SUGRUHA!

 

As a result of the common effort of all of us, SUGRUHA became a legal entity on 14 July 2009.  The weeks following that landmark have been eventful ones.  We have been able to show that the South City community stands together when faced with any threat to its legitimate interests.  That is a good beginning, but we have a long way to go in our goal of securing the integrity of our habitat.  The last few weeks have seen a number of positive developments that give us the confidence that we are moving towards a satisfactory resolution of many key issues.

 

Here is a quick update on the various initiatives that the association has taken up in the recent past:

INTERACTION WITH L&T, MAINTENANCE ISSUES: We have written to L&T informing them about the registration of our Association, and asked them to come forward and enter into a dialogue with us to resolve pending issues. Since we did not receive a reply from L&T, we have taken the issues to higher officials including their Chairman & Managing Director (CMD).  Pressure is being brought to bear on the local L&T bosses to talk to us and settle issues urgently and amicably. We are very hopeful that our efforts will yield results very soon.

 

COURT CASE: Contrary to rumours being floated by some vested interests, the court case itself has not been dismissed.  In fact, the court has asked the plaintiffs to come back with a representative suit – ie, with the backing of a larger number of owners. Our position is much stronger now, with a registered association in place! The only decision that came from the court has been the lifting of the temporary injunction that existed for the past ten months, arresting the construction of the walls (along the east-west road and along the eastern periphery of South City). To proceed further with the case, the court advised us to come back with a Representative Suit. The plaintiffs did approach the High Court to reinstate the temporary injunction, but the Court asked us to proceed with the Representative Suit, and said that it is within the powers of the lower Court to decide on reinstating the injunction, pending filing of the Representative Suit.  Action has been initiated to file a Representative Suit, and we expect to complete the necessary steps in a week. Also, SUGRUHA has filed an appeal to implead itself in these two cases.  Predictably, this was opposed by L&T and is currently under the consideration of the Court.

 

In the meantime, our discussions with the BDA resulted in their directing L&T not to continue with the construction of the walls and in any way divide the property. (see below).

 

WORKING COMMITTEES: A number of Working Committees have been formed to work on various issues that need immediate attention - eg, Security, Housekeeping, Infrastructure, etc. Over and above the elected members, many more residents have been inducted into these committees to ensure wider representation and to tap into the collective knowledge and experience of the community. More updates will be forthcoming on these matters in the near future.

Some of the committees still need more members; if you would like to participate, please contact the Secretary or either of the Vice Presidents.

 

DISCUSSIONS WITH BDA: SUGRUHA wrote to BDA regarding our problems relating to the land, and also brought to their attention the fact that L&T has been taking actions on the ground designed to affect the very integrity of the property, purportedly at the behest of BDA. We requested the Commissioner to give us an opportunity to discuss this face to face. BDA Commissioner called our representatives for a meeting at which L&T was also represented. During the discussions, the BDA Commissioner was very critical of L&T for misleading the apartment owners on these matters.  We expressed our willingness to work with them to find an equitable solution to the problem. As agreed at the meeting, we have sent a proposal for the consideration of BDA. As a consequence, BDA has asked L&T not to continue with the building of the new walls pending examination of the SUGRUHA proposal.

 

GBM:  Some of the new initiatives under SUGRUHA’s consideration would need the mandate of the General Body.  Pending the calling of a GBM, the Board would welcome feedback, comments, suggestions and views from Members on any issues of interest to the community.

 

A. Kuruvilla                          A V Venkatesh

(President)                           (Secretary)