Regularisation of 1,639 unauthorised colonies would be an easy job, provided the Union Cabinet agrees to the proposal of the Delhi Government for an ‘as-is-where -is’ basis. In a fresh note to the Ministry of Urban Development, the Delhi Government has proposed that regularisation of unauthorised colonies is possible if the Union Cabinet modifies the guidelines issued in 2007 and 2008.
The ‘as-is-where-is’ proposal will make it easy for the Government to regularise all colonies irrespective of whose jurisdiction they fall under. This will open one window system for regularisation. The sale and purchase of properties may also be allowed, subject to the production of required legal documents, including approved layout plan by civic bodies. A high-level meeting was held in the Ministry of law on Friday to discuss the legal issues involved in the regularisation of these colonies.
In its earlier note, the Delhi Government has suggested a new Act to replace the existing framework of regulations to overcome hurdles in acquisition proceedings, restrictive applicability of Delhi land Reforms Act in unauthorised colonies, declaration of nature of land, applicability of Panchayati Raj Act, relaxation of building bylaws and Master Plan of Delhi-2021, among others. The Ministry has advised the Delhi Government to simplify the regularisation process so that it could take a decision in this regard.
According to note, the Ministry of Urban Development will have to take comprehensive view on the matter of regularisation on ‘as-is-where-is’ basis after studying the existing court orders and consultation with the law Ministry. “The guidelines were issued by the Union Government in 2007 and the regulations were issued in 2008. later two amendments were made in regulations in 2008 and 2012. Still the issue of regularisation of these colonies could not be satisfactorily settled. It is, therefore, suggested that implementable guidelines and associated regulations be issued,” it said.
This will go a long way in resolving the vexed issues that have been plaguing the Government to initiate the development of these listed illegal colonies. The latest proposal may well benefit the BJP in the Assembly polls as the issue of illegal colonies has been hanging fire for many years. It is estimated that around 30-35 lakh people, who reside in these unauthorised colonies, are considered as major vote bank in city politics. Then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had tried her best to push through the regularisation of these colonies but was checkmated by the UPA questioning the authority of the State Government.
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