The Supreme Court on Friday lashed out at the flat owners of the 343 flats in four high rises in Kochi who sought more time to vacate their homes.

While declining a last minute plea to delay the demolition of the flats in Maradu, Justice Arun Mishra said: “We won’t change our order. We decline to modify our orders. We have said what we have to.” The flat owners had sought some more time to vacate while the Kerala government had given them a Thursday night deadline to vacate the premises.

The apex court had ordered demolition of the flats for violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules. Justice Mishra said: “You have been given enough time to vacate. Now don’t test the patience of the court.”  He also said they would be held in contempt if they persisted with their tactics. An angry Justice Mishra then asked the petitioners to go out of the court.

Justice Mishra had taken a strict stand on this issue earlier. He said the court order has mentioned that they will not consider any more pleas on the issue. When the advocate for the petitioner pleaded for more time, the Justice Mishra said: “Have clarified earlier that no more writ pleas will be heard. You go out. No more excuses.”

—India Legal Bureau