The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has announced that fourth floors built on residential plots without proper authorization and in violation of regulations will face demolition. Additionally, occupation certificates (OCs) for such properties will be canceled, and action will be taken against architects who facilitated these illegal constructions, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The DTCP clarified that OCs for residential properties with an unauthorized fourth floor, where formalities were not completed before February 23, 2023, will remain suspended until further directions are issued by the state government regarding the fourth-floor policy.
On February 23, 2023, the DTCP halted permissions under the stilt plus fourth floor (S+4) policy on residential plots. This decision followed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directive to form an expert committee to address issues arising from the construction of four floors. The expert committee submitted its report on June 29, 2023, but the state government is still reviewing it, and the ban on fourth-floor constructions remains in effect.
In a letter dated May 3, Hitesh Sharma, Senior Town Planner of DTCP Haryana, stated, “The issue concerning S+4 building plans, where occupation certificates are pending due to certain deficiencies, is under state government deliberation. A final decision will be made based on the recommendations of the expert committee on S+4 constructions.”
The state government imposed the ban on fourth-floor constructions after several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) raised concerns about the additional strain on colony infrastructure. The matter escalated to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, prompting the formation of a committee to examine the policy’s implications. The government is still considering the committee’s recommendations.
Rajesh Kaushik, District Town Planner of Gurugram, explained that they sought clarification from headquarters regarding properties with fourth floors constructed after February 23, 2023, but where formalities were incomplete. “Headquarters has directed that OCs for such properties will be on hold until further state government directions. Additionally, action will be taken against properties with unauthorized fourth floors, and restoration notices will be issued followed by demolition if necessary,” he stated.
The DTCP will also take action against architects found violating rules, potentially blacklisting them. “If architects are found to have facilitated illegal fourth-floor constructions, action will be taken against them,” Kaushik added.
The Senior Town Planner from Chandigarh has instructed the District Town Planner of Gurugram to submit a report on this issue within the next 10 days. “We are examining the matter and will submit the report,” Kaushik said.