India, Oct. 11 -- In a relief to older cooperative housing societies in Navi Mumbai, the Bombay High Court has ruled that Cidco cannot demand transfer charges from flat owners in societies whose land lease deeds were executed before February 8, 1990, if the original agreements did not provide for such charges.

The ruling means Cidco cannot use a rule introduced in 1990 to impose a new financial obligation on societies whose leases were signed before the amendment came into force. However, the relief granted by the court is limited to two societies - Manmandir Cooperative Housing Society in Nerul and Surya Cooperative Housing Society in Vashi - and does not automatically extend to all 2,528 societies represented by the Navi Mumbai Coopera...