Kochi: A resident of the Army Welfare Housing Organisation’s (AWHO) Chander Kunj towers in Vytilla has filed a review petition before the High Court, challenging its September 10, 2025 judgement on the building’s demolition that also dismissed his individual appeal in the case. The apartment complex is slated for demolition after severe structural defects were found following its handover in 2018. 

The petition was filed by Colonel Ciby George (Retd.) who contended that his earlier petition was dismissed arbitrarily by the Division Bench without fully considering his individual grievances regarding compensation and related reliefs. He said that the court’s approach resulted in what he describes as “unequally harsh treatment” compared to other parties who filed individual petitions in the case.  

“Such an unequally harsh treatment in spite of the fact that this appellant has undergone much personal suffering over the years while relentlessly trying to expose the malpractices and wrongdoings committed by AWHO and their associates and saving the residents from total loss, has caused considerable agony to this appellant,” said the petition. 

George’s review petition also explained why he approached the court on his own rather than through the Residents’ Welfare Association. He alleged that the association has not acted independently but has instead sided with the developer, AWHO, against the interests of the residents. The petition claimed that both groups share overlapping office bearers and that some of them have been named as accused in multiple FIRs connected to the construction failures. 

He also alleged that the association and AWHO worked together to suppress crucial expert reports, including findings from IIT Chennai that warned about the buildings’ unsafe condition. Further, he claimed that both parties misled the court by presenting a “buy-back” offer purportedly agreed to by 82 owners — an arrangement which, according to him, “was never executed in even a single case.” These circumstances, the petition said, left him with “no other option but to approach the court individually.” 

George also argued that the rent should be based on the actual size of his apartment — 2,252.28 sq ft — rather than the standard 1,810.80 sq ft unit used by the authorities. He says this is necessary “to ensure the right to equality and the right to equity,” noting that he already pays a higher building tax due to his larger unit size. 

The retired officer has also sought ₹16 lakh in compensation for permanent interior and exterior improvements that will be lost when the building is demolished. He maintains that he was not given a proper hearing on this aspect. The High Court will now decide whether to admit the review petition. 

The High Court had earlier ordered the demolition and reconstruction of the towers and directed AWHO to pay six months’ rent in advance to residents for their alternate accommodation. In compliance, AWHO deposited ₹2.7 crore in an escrow account opened by the Ernakulam district administration, which later ordered the disbursal of the amount to the flat owners. However, it is reported that some owners, including George, are yet to receive their rent. While most residents have already vacated their flats, a few continue to reside there. The district administration is yet to finalise the demolition contract. 

Meanwhile, the High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing in another petition filed by George, seeking a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities in the construction of the towers, to 23 October.