With many recent MHA decisions, including lal dora extension and conversion of commercial and industrial properties from leasehold to freehold, going against different sections of people in Chandigarh, local MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday raised another key poll issue — ban on sale and purchase of share-wise properties in Chandigarh — in the Lok Sabha, seeking cancellation of a notification issued by the Chandigarh administration in Feb 2023.
Raising the matter in Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Tewari said the UT administration failed to interpret the Supreme Court’s judgment correctly on this subject and applied brakes on the sale and purchase of properties outside family, the decision which will affect lakhs of residents of Chandigarh. Tewari cited the observation of the Chandigarh heritage committee on this subject and the judgment of Supreme Court to support his case.
“On January 10, 2024, the Supreme Court issued two orders. In the first order, it said that the Chandigarh administration will not approve such a drawing, which converts 3-storey houses into three flats. Besides, it was also directed that any kind of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) won’t be registered, which converts such a thing into reality, till the heritage committee of the Chandigarh administration reconsiders re-densification,” Tewari said.
The MP said, “Now, the heritage committee reconsidered and ensured that the heritage sectors of the city didn’t require any re-densification. But it is unfortunate that Chandigarh administration probably could not understand the decision properly and issued an order banning share-wise sale of property in the entire city in Feb 2023.”
“Due to the move, lakhs of residents are getting affected. Somebody is suffering from cancer or has to send his child abroad for studies. But he/she cannot sell his property other than his co-owners. As a result, Rs 100 item is being sold at Rs 10,” the MP said metaphorically.
“So I want to demand from the home ministry that the notification, dated Feb 9, 2023, issued by Chandigarh administration be rescinded with immediate effect,” he added.