CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh administration has proposed to grant ownership rights to occupants of over 35,000 dwelling units in the city’s rehabilitation colonies. The draft policy has been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for consideration and approval.
Currently, this proposal applies only to the original allottees of the dwelling units in rehabilitation colonies. Holders of General Power of Attorney (GPA) who purchased houses from the original allottees are excluded from this policy. However, given that approximately 80% of such houses have been sold under GPA in the past few decades, sources indicate that they will be included in a second phase, following the initial approval for original allottees.
The UT estate department has defined multiple areas under the proposal, which include eligibility criteria, applicable and non-applicable allottees, and considerations.
“As this decision on ownership rights for rehabilitation colonies is critical, the authority plans to implement it in phases. Should the proposal for original allottees be approved, the proposal for GPA holders will be reviewed. The issue regarding GPAs was also raised during the public darbar of the Punjab governor/Chandigarh administrator, so the department is keen to explore the options,” a UT official mentioned to TOI.
A screening committee is proposed to assess applications, and the administrator has the authority to relax any provisions of this scheme if deemed necessary in the public interest.
Rehabilitation colonies are situated in areas like Dadumajra, Indira Colony, Manimajra, Mauli Jagran, Dhanas, Bapu Dham, Sector 52, and Sector 56. Most units were allocated on a 99-year lease starting from 1979.
Applicability
This scheme applies to all original licensees/allottees or their legal heirs who were allotted dwelling units under the rehabilitation scheme and have resided in those units for over seven years for personal use.
Non-applicability
This policy does not apply in cases where the license for the dwelling unit has been revoked or canceled. It also excludes units with building violations pending in court or cases of misuse and encroachments on public land.
