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HC dismisses govt servants’ plea seeking ownership of Powai quarters
The Bombay High Court dismissed petitions by serving and retired government employees seeking ownership of 72 flats in the Blue Bell building, Powai. The court held the flats were designated as government accommodation, allowing serving employees to stay until superannuation and ordering retirees to vacate within 12 weeks.
Why It Matters
The ruling clarifies the status of government quarters in Powai and affects ongoing ownership pleas, with implications for housing policy for state staff.
Timeline
6 Events
April 16, 2026: High Court dismisses ownership petitions for Blue Bell flats
April 16, 2026
The Bombay High Court dismissed the three petitions by Blue Bell residents seeking ownership of the flats. The court held there was no merit in the claims. It stated that the flats are government accommodation; serving employees may continue to occupy until retirement, and retired occupants must vacate within 12 weeks. The court reiterated that it found no right to ownership and that the state could utilise the flats to meet housing needs as it sees fit.
FIR lodged against Rajesh Govil over alleged ₹2.61 crore collection
July 19, 2025
In July 2025, 19 state government officers lodged a complaint leading to the registration of a First Information Report against retired deputy secretary Rajesh Govil at Powai police station on July 19, 2025, alleging collection of ₹2.61 crore while promising to convert residential quarters into ownership homes.
Govil files petition to quash FIR
July 2025
Rajesh Govil filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of the FIR lodged on July 19, 2025.
Govil files separate petition seeking ownership relief as in 2018 petition
2025
In 2025, Govil filed a separate petition in the High Court seeking the same ownership relief as the 2018 petition.
2018 petitions by residents seeking ownership of Blue Bell flats
2018
Residents including serving and retired government servants jointly filed petitions before the Bombay High Court seeking transfer of the 72 flats in the Blue Bell building to them on an ownership basis.
2012 PIL order directs sale and purchase of flats for government employees
2012
In 2012, the Bombay High Court's PIL directed the state government to purchase flats at Powai and sell them to government employees. The court noted violations of the tripartite agreement and required the developer to sell 15% of the plot's FSI to the state government at ₹135 per square foot, enabling the government to offer flats to its employees.