New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has levied significant costs on Sahara Group’s ten companies and their top directors for failing to comply with a court order related to a dispute with homebuyers. The Court has imposed a cost of ₹10 lakh each on the ten companies and ₹5 lakh each on the top 20 directors, totaling ₹2 crore. This amount is to be paid to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, aimed at aiding the victims of the recent landslides in Wayanad.
In October 2023, the Supreme Court had directed the Sahara Group companies to provide flats to certain homebuyers. However, during a recent hearing, it was noted that despite having six opportunities to comply with the Court’s order, the companies failed to do so. Consequently, the Court imposed the ₹2 crore penalty to be directed towards the relief efforts in Kerala.
The Supreme Court’s bench, consisting of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta, took the decision to enforce these costs in light of the critical situation following the Wayanad landslides. The funds are intended to aid in the restoration and relief efforts for those affected by the natural disaster.
During the hearing, senior advocates Siddhartha Dave, Simranjeet Singh, Gautam Talukdar, Neha Gupta, Karan Jain, Rishabh Pant, and Yajat Gulia appeared on behalf of the Sahara Group. For the homebuyers, advocates Siddharth Batra, Archna Yadav, Chinmay Dubey, Shivani Chawla, Rhythm Katyal, and Pratyush Arora represented their interests.
The landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, on July 30, 2024, resulted in a devastating loss of life. The disaster claimed the lives of 437 individuals. Currently, 1,505 survivors are housed in 12 relief camps across the district. Among them, there are 571 men, 366 children, and 566 women, including two pregnant women.
The authorities have completed DNA tests on 401 human remains recovered from the affected areas. Revenue Minister K. Rajan informed the media that further tests are required for 52 decomposed body parts. Of the remaining 349 body parts, 194 have been identified as belonging to different individuals, while the other 54 parts belong to identifiable individuals.
The Supreme Court’s decision to impose these costs on the Sahara Group highlights the Court’s commitment to enforcing compliance and addressing critical humanitarian needs. The funds directed towards the Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund will support ongoing relief efforts in Wayanad, aiding the recovery and restoration process in the wake of the tragic landslides.
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