Taking cognisance of a writ petition filed by Divya B Lal and others, the court asked Principal Secretary of Town and Country Planning to inform it whether any guidelines for regularising illegal and unauthorised constructions existed and how many such structures had been regularised in the last decade.
The petitioners have alleged that one, R K Kaushal, was carrying out illegal construction at a flat purchased in Royal Oak apartments in Upper Kaithu.
They said despite a complaint made to Shimla's municipal corporation and a notice issued to stop construction, Kaushal continued with the illegal construction due to government plans to come up with a retention policy.
Under the retention policy, building that have come up in violations of the construction plans are intended to be regularised.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary also directed Shimla's civic body to ensure Kaushal did not carry out any further illegal construction.