RANCHI: The Association of Licensed Technical Professionals of Jharkhand, made up of leading architects and structural engineers, has reached out to the Chief Minister to request significant modifications to the newly implemented ‘Jharkhand Regularisation of Unauthorizedly Constructed Building Rules, 2026’.
The letter states that the existing framework limits regularisation applications to individuals with a total plot size not exceeding 300 square metres (approximately 3,228 square feet or 7.41 decimals). This criterion, according to the association, marginalizes a large segment of the population governed by the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act, where traditional land holdings usually exceed 10 decimals, thus excluding them from the scheme’s advantages.
To address this issue, the association has suggested that the state modify its assessment from total plot size to the actual built-up area of the construction.
Sujeet Bhagat, the association’s President, stated, “A person with 1500 sq ft of constructed area but a plot size exceeding 300 sq mt cannot apply for building regularisation, despite having a modest dwelling.”
He pointed out that this limitation disproportionately affects the state’s indigenous communities. Raphael Khalkho, a resident, shared, “I own a 12 decimal plot but have built only within 3 decimal and am unable to apply for regularisation. Many like me under the CNT Act will miss out on benefits as we typically hold larger plot areas.” Khalkho added that he and others are reaching out to local MLAs to advocate for the protection of tribal rights in the new regulations.
According to the official guidelines, only municipal-authorized Licensed Technical Persons (LTPs), including civil engineers, architects, and draftsmen, can submit applications through the newly launched online portal. Bhagat revealed that many LTPs are currently unable to handle a substantial number of cases due to this plot-size limitation.
As a solution, the association has called for the state to revise the regulations to focus on the built-up area rather than the plot area. “We propose that the total built-up area of a G+2 building be capped at 9600 sq ft for regularisation, with each floor not exceeding 3200 sq ft. This adjustment will benefit a larger population,” Bhagat stated.
The letter also identified a second major technical barrier related to road width requirements. The 2026 rules align with the Jharkhand Building Byelaws 2016, stipulating a minimum of 25-foot frontal road for any unauthorized construction to qualify for regularisation. Bhagat noted that many houses in older or smaller colonies are situated along narrower lanes, and said, “Most homes in small colonies cannot get regularised because the roads are not wide enough. We demand that this requirement be eliminated.”
The Building Regularisation Rules were officially sanctioned by the state cabinet in April 2026, with the online application portal going live on May 14, 2026. This policy currently targets G+2 commercial and non-commercial structures on plots up to 300 square metres, requiring a minimum regularisation fee of Rs 10,000 for residential properties and Rs 20,000 for non-residential buildings.
