Court petition seeks order to halt allocation of flats

An interim order has been sought from the Civil Court to stop the government from handing over flats under the Gedhoruveriya scheme to individuals already listed under the previous allocation.

The previous administration allocated space for 4,000 flats to be built by the Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) under the scheme. While the current government initially planned to review the list, it later decided to continue with the earlier allocations. According to the Housing Ministry, around 700 names may be removed from the permanent list issued previously. The ministry is now proceeding with agreements for recipients of the flats.

A civilian filed the petition on Monday after his name was excluded from the earlier list and agreements were signed under the previous government. His lawyer, Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim, told reporters that the petitioner had requested an interim order to prevent the flat from being allocated to another person until the case is decided.

Galolhu North Councillor Mohamed Saif Fathih, who is assisting affected individuals in his constituency, was also present at the court. Saif said that many people with valid agreements under the former administration have been informed they will not receive flats under the ongoing handover.

Saif added that there are more than 60 individuals who have been excluded, and separate cases will be filed on their behalf. “The purpose of filing separately is not to interfere with the current handover. This is the first case. In the future, case after case will be submitted to court,” he said.

Nishan urged all individuals who had agreements under the previous government to file cases, claiming that the removal of names and reallocation was in violation of the Contract Act.