Thousands of residents living in small flats and affordable rental housing complexes could get relief from outstanding dues and high monthly licence fees, while people who acquired Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) properties through general power of attorney (GPA) agreements could get another opportunity to regularise their transfers.
This comes two days after Union home minister Amit Shah, during his visit to the city announced three Diwali gifts for the city, but said, he will leave it to administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to make the final announcement.
This will benefit thousands of residents, who have purchased CHB properties through GPA, but have been unable to get them formally transferred in their names. The board also approved the reintroduction of the 2016 GPA transfer policy, with modifications, for a period of six months as a one-time measure. The CHB had earlier introduced a policy in 2016 to regularise certain old property transactions. However, following a Supreme Court judgment and subsequent directions from the administration, the board stopped accepting applications for transfer based on GPA and special power of attorney (SPA) from January 2018. The fresh policy will apply to GPAs executed before October 11, 2011, in accordance with the cut-off date laid down by the Supreme Court in the Suraj Lamp case.
They, therefore, continue to face legal hurdles in securing formal ownership rights despite being in possession of the properties and having documents relating to the old transactions. The CHB board of directors on Monday approved a series of long-pending demands, including a one-time interest waiver and the reintroduction of its GPA transfer policy.
