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DDA flat-owners to pay penalty for misuse

Staff Reporter

To be paid by those wanting to get properties converted to freehold

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority has decided to impose penalties of up to Rs. 2.40 lakhs for misuse in DDA flats allotted in different categories under various schemes. Along with the penalties, the restoration charges in case of flats cancelled due to misuse have also been revised.

Stating that the move was aimed at checking misuse of its properties, DDA said these charges would have to be paid upfront by those wanting to get their properties converted from leasehold to freehold.

However, the move has come in for some criticism. DDA Member and Councillor Virender Kasana said it ran contrary to the spirit of the Tejinder Khanna Committee Report and should not be implemented before the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 was finalised as that too seeks to address the issue of misuse of DDA flats. "How can people be punished for the same crime twice? DDA seeks to impose penalties for violations while there is a proposal to make such deviations a compoundable offence under the Master Plan."

Mr. Kasana charged that while there was a moratorium on all demolitions and penalties at present, DDA was trying to save its own corrupt officials through the move as these persons were responsible for condoning all the violations thus far. "The shops and businesses have come up in full knowledge of these officials and they should be punished first. Also, such heavy penalties are unwarranted as the compoundable fines being proposed for violations are much less." DDA has decided to impose penalties for misuse in flats allotted in different categories under various schemes. It has been decided to charge the following misuse charges where flat has been used for purpose other than residence.

For Janata flats the penalty would be Rs. 80,000 in South, Central and Dwarka Zones, Rs. 50,000 in North, East, West and Rohini Zones and Rs. 20,000 in Narela Zone. Likewise for LIG/SFS flats it would be Rs. 1,25,000, Rs. 90,000 and Rs. 30,000 respective; for MIG/SFS II Rs 1,90,000, Rs. 1,20,000 and Rs. 40,000 respectively; for HIG/SFS III Rs. 2,40,000, Rs. 1,60,000 and Rs. 50,000 respective; for car garage Rs. 1,10,000, Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively and for servant quarters or scooter garage it would be Rs. 60,000, Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 10,000 respective depending on the category of the zone.

The restoration charges for cancelled flats have also gone up substantially and are now Rs. 25,000 for SFS-III/HIG flats, Rs. 20,000 for SFS-II/MIG/EHS-B flats, Rs. 10,000 for SFS-I/LIG/EHS-A flats and Rs. 5,000 for Janata flats.

Further, DDA said, in case of flats that had not been cancelled but on which there has been encroachment on public land, damages equivalent to the amount of restoration charges would have to be paid.

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