Legislature clears bill to give cover to illegal buildings

Going against the directives of Supreme Court and J-K High Court, the state government today went ahead to give temporary legal cover to illegal buildings and structures through the passage of a bill in the legislature.
The Legislative Council today passed a Bill to make certain temporary provisions for the local areas of Jammu, Katra and Srinagar (LA Bill No.5 of 2014) which was sent to it by the state Assembly.
The bill was moved by Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora.
The Assembly had last evening passed the controversial bill to put a moratorium on the demolition of illegal structures which have come up in Srinagar, Jammu and Katra in violation of master plans.

The law would provide legal cover to the illegal constructions till March 15.
Jora defended the bill which sets aside high court orders directing the sealing and demolition of illegal buildings. The state government had moved Supreme Court for a stay on the high court order, but the apex court rejected the plea and upheld the HC order.
Under the Act -- J-K Civic Laws (Special Provision) Act, 2014 -- which has to receive the governor's assent, the government would task a high-powered committee to prepare a roadmap for regularising unauthorised structures, both residential and commercial, against the payment of a penalty.

"All notices issued by local authorities for initiating action against unauthorised constructions shall be deemed to have been suspended until March 31, 2015, or until a policy is formulated by the government, whichever is earlier,", the bill said.