CHB acts tough, cancels flat allotment over violations

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 19

The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has started disposing of cases related to violation and misuse of dwelling units on a fast-track basis.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CHB has cancelled the allotment of a flat in Sector 44-D almost a year after issuing a notice.

In the eviction order, issued on November 18, the CEO directed the owner of the flat to hand over its possession to the CHB within 30 days, failing which eviction proceedings shall be initiated against the owner. The order was issued after the owner failed to remove the violations even after six hearings.

The order mentioned that the owner of the flat was issued a show-cause notice on September 21, 2018, after the CHB found violations in the flat during an inspection. It was found that a room had been reconstructed with an RCC slab from the lower level to the upper level in the rear courtyard (fully covered).

Besides, there were other violations too such as encroachment on government land. The order stated that the allottee did not remove the violations and encroachment despite having been given six opportunities of hearings for removing these. As per the conditions mentioned in the allotment letter, the dwelling unit could be used only for residential purposes. No addition or alteration could be made therein without prior approval from the board in writing.

The  order  further  mentioned that the owner  was  given a final opportunity on November 14, but neither the allottee/occupier  appear nor was any information  received from him. The board  had no option but to  cancel the  allotment  on account of breach of the terms and conditions.

Kanwar Pratap, owner of the flat, said he had no  knowledge of any  such order.   He  said  he  could not   attend the final hearing. Yashpal Garg, CEO of the CHB, said the  board had started  compiling  data  of all pending cases to dispose  of these in a time-bound manner.

Failed to remove violations even after 6 hearings

The order was issued after the owner of the flat failed to remove the violations even after six hearings. The order mentioned that the owner was issued a show-cause notice on September 21, 2018, after the CHB found violations in the flat during an inspection. It was found that a room had been reconstructed with an RCC slab from the lower level to the upper level in the rear courtyard (fully covered). Besides, there were other violations too such as encroachment on government land. The order stated that the allottee did not remove the violations and encroachment despite having been given six opportunities of hearings for removing these.