Latest StoriesRegulatory

SC Addresses Recent Delhi, Lucknow Fires; Questions Civic Bodies

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has expressed serious concerns over unauthorized constructions in Delhi-NCR, particularly following recent fire incidents in Delhi and Lucknow. The Court admonished civic bodies, stating that top officials could be held personally accountable for failing to follow its directives. A bench comprised of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan requested the personal appearance of officials from the Municipal Corporations of Delhi, Gurugram, and Lucknow. The bench noted their non-compliance with directives issued over time. The Supreme Court was dissatisfied with inaction regarding its May 20 directives concerning the sealing, demolition, and other legal actions against unauthorized…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Ahmedabad Court Denies Bail to Popular Builders Owner

AHMEDABAD: A city sessions court on Tuesday denied the regular bail request of Raman Patel, the owner of Popular Builders, in a land-grabbing case filed by the CID (crime) last year. The court refused bail primarily due to Patel’s prior convictions, including a similar case in which he was found guilty of using forged documents to seize two plots. Patel and his brother Dashrath were named as witnesses in a 2010 CBI chargesheet related to the controversial Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. Over the last five years, Patel has faced multiple allegations of land grabbing linked to forged documentation concerning transactions…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

New Buildings Found on Protected Forest Land in Anangpur

GURUGRAM: New construction activities have emerged in the protected forest area of Anangpur village. Observations during a site visit revealed recently erected structures, extensive boundary walls, and indications of ongoing development within a region governed by the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), which has been the focal point of numerous legal disputes regarding encroachments in the Aravalis. During an inspection, TOI discovered a substantial multi-story building nearing completion, along with newly plastered compound walls surrounding significant land parcels and signs of ongoing masonry work. The land records confirm that these constructions are within a PLPA-designated area. This new development occurs…

Latest StoriesResidential

Survey to Focus on Current Areas, Not New Claims in Haryana

GURUGRAM: New constructions or expansions are excluded from an ongoing exercise designed to identify residential areas within the notified Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) zone in Anangpur, Faridabad. Officials engaged in ground-truthing to determine residential areas noted attempts by some residents to extend their property boundaries. As a result, they emphasized that such modifications should not skew the findings of the exercise. A ground-truthing exercise verifies and validates information derived from remote sources like satellite imagery or official documentation to ensure that the data accurately reflects the current state of the land. Officials have directed that the focus remain on…

CommercialLatest Stories

Gurugram: Demolition of illegal buildings starts on Galleria Road

GURUGRAM: The enforcement wing of the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) demolished 13 unauthorized commercial structures on land designated for residential use in Chakkarpur, near Hamilton Court Society on Galleria Road. The demolition occurred under strict security, supported by personnel from the Sector 29 police station. Among the structures removed were a chemist shop, pet shop, and a scrap dealer’s unit. District Town Planner (Enforcement) Amit Madholia led the operation alongside duty magistrate Naveen Barua, assistant town planners Divya Dahiya and others from the enforcement team. This anti-encroachment drive concludes a legal battle that lasted over 20 years.…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

SC to Hear Plea on Flats Under Subvention Scheme

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea urging the Centre to establish a scheme ensuring that if flats under a subvention plan are not delivered to homebuyers, both the lender and builder will share the loss of the loan amount disbursed. Under the subvention scheme, banks directly transfer sanctioned amounts to builders, who are then responsible for covering the EMIs until the flats are delivered. However, when builders default on the EMIs according to the tripartite agreement, banks seek payment directly from homebuyers. A bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana has…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

SC Orders Settlement Execution in Ardee Family Dispute

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has instructed the execution of a settlement concerning the family of the late real estate developer Ashok Varma, associated with the Ardee Group and its family assets. A bench led by Justices J K Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar acknowledged the mediator’s report and ordered the parties to implement the settlement. The case involves Shefali Varma and Shibani Varma Kapur, the daughters of Ashok Varma, and their dispute over the family’s real estate assets and business endeavors. The court had assigned former Justice Kurian Joseph as a mediator to facilitate an amicable resolution. The bench…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Jaipur Developer Seeks SC Action on Residential Land Use

Supreme Court of India NEW DELHI: A private real estate company in Jaipur has petitioned the Supreme Court, alleging unauthorized commercial activities on land intended for residential use and urging the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (Greater) to investigate and act accordingly. The petition was filed in the ongoing case of Loganathan vs State of Tamil Nadu & Ors., where the Supreme Court already instructed municipal authorities in state capitals to identify residential areas misused for commercial activities and provide compliance reports. Rajdarbar Pinkcity Developments Pvt. Ltd. seeks to include its concerns in the Supreme Court’s ongoing review of unauthorized commercial use…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

SC probes Jaipur body over delay in commercial use in homes

JAIPUR: The Supreme Court has expressed strong disapproval towards the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) for neglecting its directives concerning commercial entities in residential zones of Jaipur. The court noted that the JDA did not appear during proceedings nor submit an affidavit outlining actions taken after conducting necessary surveys, despite ongoing complaints from residents about significant violations. A bench consisting of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan acknowledged that amicus curiae Ajit Kumar Sinha pointed out the JDA’s absence from the hearings. This lapse was deemed serious, especially as it pertains to the enforcement of town planning regulations and the…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

HC Limits Relief in Building Violations, Opens Door for DTCP in Gurugram

GURUGRAM: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has paved the way for authorities to take action on numerous cases of alleged building violations within the city. The court has clarified that an earlier restraint order applies only to property owners involved in current litigation, rather than a blanket pause on all cases. This dispute concerns unauthorized constructions, additional floors, excessive coverage, and commercial operations in residential areas spanning DLF-1 to 5. In an order issued on May 29, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu led the bench in specifying that the previous restraint order from November 26, 2025, only affects additional respondents…