The Tamil Nadu Regularisation of Unapproved Layouts and Plots in Hill Areas Rules, 2020
The Housing and Urban Development Department, through G.O. Ms. No. 66 dated 30 March 2020, issued the Tamil Nadu Regularisation of Unapproved Layouts and Plots in Hill Areas Rules, 2020. The rules create a case by case process for regularising eligible unapproved layouts, subdivisions and plots in specified hill areas, while excluding protected, hazardous and publicly reserved land.
What the rules govern
The Tamil Nadu Regularisation of Unapproved Layouts and Plots in Hill Areas Rules, 2020 apply to specified hill areas under the Directorate of Town and Country Planning. They cover hill areas listed in Annexure I, listed hill stations, certain other local bodies, and specified villages or taluks in The Nilgiris, Dindigul and Salem districts. Hill areas listed in Annexure II are excluded.
The rules are intended to regularise entire layout frameworks where feasible, including improvements to roads, circulation, open space and land for public purposes. Applications are considered case by case, with no objection certificates from district officials of the Forests, Geology and Mining, and Agricultural Engineering departments.
Who may qualify
The Tamil Nadu Regularisation of Unapproved Layouts and Plots in Hill Areas Rules, 2020 provide that:
- An unapproved layout may be considered if some or all plots were sold through registered sale deeds on or before 20 October 2016.
- All plots, including unsold plots, may be eligible where at least some plots in the layout were sold by that date.
- An individual subdivision plot may qualify if registered through a sale deed or title deed on or before 20 October 2016.
- Copies of registered sale deeds or title deeds must be supplied as evidence.
- An agreement for sale or General Power of Attorney is not accepted as proof of sale.
Regularisation of a layout framework does not automatically regularise individual plots. Each plot owner, or the promoter for unsold plots, must apply separately after the layout framework is regularised.
Land that cannot be regularised
The Tamil Nadu Regularisation of Unapproved Layouts and Plots in Hill Areas Rules, 2020 exclude plots or layouts involving:
- Public water bodies or Government Poramboke land.
- Reserved open space, parks or play fields.
- Vacant plots blocking the only access to surrounding land.
- Proposed road, railway or street alignments in development plans.
- Encroachment on public roads or land not owned by the applicant.
- Land affected by the land ceiling laws identified in the rules.
- Land below high tension or extra high voltage electric lines.
- Land within 500 metres of Reserve Forest, Wooded Lands or declared areas of Special Interest.
- Elephant corridors, ecologically sensitive areas and identified landslide prone areas.
Applications and responsibility
The Tamil Nadu Regularisation of Unapproved Layouts and Plots in Hill Areas Rules, 2020 require individual plot applications to be made to the relevant local authority officer. Layout promoters, registered cooperative societies or associations must rectify deficiencies, comply with conditions, and pay the required fees and charges.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does regularisation of my hill area layout automatically regularise my plot?
No. Regularisation of the layout framework does not automatically regularise an individual plot. The plot owner must apply separately after in-principle approval of the layout framework.
Can I use an agreement for sale or General Power of Attorney as proof that the plot was sold?
No. The rules require copies of a registered sale deed or title deed. An agreement for sale or General Power of Attorney is not accepted as evidence of sale.
Can a plot sold after 20 October 2016 qualify?
The rules make individual plot eligibility dependent on registration through a sale deed or title deed on or before 20 October 2016. For layouts, at least some plots must have been sold through registered sale deeds by that date.
Can land near a Reserve Forest be regularised?
A plot or layout lying wholly or partly within 500 metres of the boundaries of Reserve Forest, Wooded Lands or declared areas of Special Interest is not eligible for regularisation.
