G.O. (Ms.) No.71, Effective Implementation of Section 113-C of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971
The Housing and Urban Development [UD4(3)] Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No.71 on 5 May 2015, extending the tenure of the committee headed by Justice Thiru S. Rajeswaran, retired Judge of the High Court of Madras, until 30 June 2015. The extension allowed the committee more time to finalise and submit rules and guidelines for effective implementation of Section 113-C of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, including work relating to unauthorised development, heritage structures and hill areas.
What the government order does
G.O. (Ms.) No.71 of the Housing and Urban Development [UD4(3)] Department, dated 5 May 2015, extends the tenure of the committee headed by Justice Thiru S. Rajeswaran, retired Judge of the High Court of Madras, until 30 June 2015. The committee had been constituted to frame appropriate rules and guidelines for effective implementation of Section 113-C of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971.
The committee had previously received an extension until 30 April 2015. The later extension gave it additional time to complete its work and submit its report to the Government.
Why additional time was given
The Justice Thiru S. Rajeswaran Committee reported that it was meeting weekly and working to finalise its recommendations. Additional time was requested because its work included:
- Deliberations and hearings involving experts, stakeholders and civil society organisations.
- Considering solutions for extensive unauthorised development in the George Town area.
- Reviewing fortnightly survey results prepared by the Corporation of Chennai and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
- Examining the nature and characteristics of unauthorised development in George Town that took place on or before 1 July 2007.
- Developing specific guidelines for regularisation of buildings in George Town after building information was collected and processed.
- Considering specific guidelines for regularising heritage structures and unauthorised buildings in hill areas.
- Carefully examining the issue because the matter was also before the High Court of Madras.
Who may be affected
G.O. (Ms.) No.71 may be relevant to building owners, property professionals and authorities concerned with unauthorised development, particularly in George Town, heritage structures and hill areas. The document records a proposal to invite building owners through newspaper notification to provide details of individual buildings to the authorities.
The government order does not itself approve or regularise any building. It only extends the committee's tenure so that rules, guidelines and recommendations can be finalised.
Committee and reporting requirement
The committee included the Commissioner of Town and Country Planning as Member and Convener, the Member Secretary and Chief Planner of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, and the Head of the Department of the School of Architecture and Planning at Anna University.
The Government directed the committee to submit its report by the end of the extended tenure. It also directed the Member-Convener and Director of Town and Country Planning to ensure that the report was submitted within that period.
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 G.O. (Ms.) No.71 regularise my unauthorised building?
No. G.O. (Ms.) No.71 only extends the committee's tenure until 30 June 2015 so it can finalise and submit its report on rules and guidelines.
Why does the government order refer specifically to George Town?
The committee's work had expanded to include possible solutions for extensive unauthorised development in George Town. It was reviewing surveys by the Corporation of Chennai and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority concerning development that took place on or before 1 July 2007.
Were building owners required to provide details under G.O. (Ms.) No.71?
The document says that a newspaper notification was proposed to invite building owners to provide details of each building to the authorities. It does not state that G.O. (Ms.) No.71 itself imposed that requirement.
Does the committee's work cover heritage buildings and hill areas?
Yes. The committee was considering specific guidelines for regularising heritage structures and unauthorised buildings in hill areas.
