The Hindu : Kerala News : State upholds privileges of engineers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

State upholds privileges of engineers

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, NOV. 14. Corporate members of the Institution of Engineers (India) who are already registered as chartered engineers have been exempted by the Kerala Government from taking licence from the municipal authorities to sign plans, drawings and specifications in connection with the development permit for an area up to 1 hectare.

The State had earlier exempted architects registered as per the Architects Act 1972 from taking licence from the municipal authorities for the purpose. The exemption was granted to architects when the amended Kerala Building Rules came into effect in 1999.

Discrimination

Subsequently, the National Council Member of the Institution of Engineers (India) T.R. Krishnan filed a petition before the Kerala High Court alleging that the amended Building Rules discriminated between engineers and architects. As per the new rules, corporate members of the Indian Institute of Architects are deemed to be licensed whereas engineers who are corporate members of the Institution of Engineers (India) have to register again to become licensed engineers in municipalities.

The Court had directed the Government to give a fresh opportunity to hear the petitioner and issue appropriate orders to redress the grievance of discrimination raised in the petition. The Government, after the hearing the petitioner, has now issued orders exempting corporate members of the Institution of Engineers (India) from the need for registering with the municipal authorities, bringing them on a par with architects holding similar qualifications.

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