Locked house, owner missing
The Hindu
Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm
— Sundaresan N.
At present, it is not possible for the majority of the owners to compel anyone to sell or develop their holding. Therefore, consent of all flat owners is essential. If one of the owners is not traceable but the remaining owners are of the opinion that the building has to be redeveloped on account of its age, as a first step, the structural stability of the building has to be assessed. In the event of the building being declared unsafe for occupation, an application can be made to Corporation of Chennai for demolition on that ground. Once the land becomes vacant, a suit for partition by metes and bounds can be filed against the non co-operating/ non-traceable owner and further course of action would depend on the orders of Court.