GURUGRAM: The Haryana government has once again halted approvals for stilt-plus-four (S+4) residential buildings statewide, following proceedings at the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday.
The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) issued directives on Wednesday evening instructing all relevant authorities to cease granting new approvals for S+4 buildings until further notice.
An official communication from the DTCP director indicated that the decision was made due to the pending finalization of an online building plan approval framework and other administrative mechanisms for these types of constructions. Consequently, all new approvals are on hold.
The order mandates that concerned authorities refrain from approving any pending or new applications for S+4 buildings. Furthermore, officials have been directed to suspend the acceptance of such applications on the online building plan approval portal with immediate effect until further instructions are provided.
Copies of the directive have been disseminated to the Chief Administrator of Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran, the Urban Local Bodies Department, Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, senior town planners, district town planners, and other relevant authorities for compliance.
This development follows a petition filed by Sunil Singh against the Haryana government. Senior advocate Nivedita Sharma represented the petitioner during the proceedings.
During a hearing on Tuesday, the acting Chief Justice emphasized that no new approvals for S+4 buildings should be granted at this time. Following these proceedings, the DTCP issued new administrative directives extending the restriction across Haryana.
This latest order effectively reinstates a statewide freeze on new S+4 approvals until the government establishes the necessary regulatory and digital approval framework or the court provides further directions.
The scrutiny surrounding S+4 residential buildings has persisted for several months. Previously, the HC imposed a statewide stay on such constructions; however, in subsequent hearings, the court adjusted its interim directives, limiting the restriction to urban areas while allowing approvals to resume in the rest of Haryana.
The litigation is focused on concerns regarding the regulation, approval process, and implementation mechanisms governing high-density residential development under the state’s stilt-plus-four policy.
