SC issues rules to curb illegal constructions

The Supreme Court has issued nationwide guidelines to tackle the growing menace of unauthorised constructions, mandating stringent compliance with building regulations and directing that possession of buildings be handed over to owners or beneficiaries by a developer only after obtaining a valid completion or occupation certificate.

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI:

Mandating greater accountability from builders, authorities and even financial institutions, a bench of justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan on Tuesday directed that service providers, including electricity and water supply boards, must ensure that connections are granted only after verifying valid completion or occupation certificates, adding that trade and business licenses should also be denied in unauthorised residential or commercial buildings. The top court further ordered that banks and financial institutions ought to verify completion or occupation certificates before sanctioning loans against buildings.