After the state government banned stilt-plus-four-floor buildings last year, the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has ordered plot owners to demolish additional floors built without permission. On February 23, 2023, the Haryana government suspended all new building plan approvals for four-floor structures across the state.

This decision followed residents\’ demands to halt the construction of four-story buildings, citing poor infrastructure and lack of facilities. The government had allowed the construction of fourth floors through a policy change in 2019, but numerous complaints arose when property owners started adding extra floors contrary to their permits, which only allowed two floors. Architects have also been issuing occupation certificates (OCs) for these properties under a self-certification scheme.

DTCP Orders Demolition of Illegal 4th Floor

In response, officials stated that DTCP will cancel all OCs issued to such buildings and request the Council of Architecture to blacklist architects found guilty of these offenses. In March, the department sought clarification from DTCP headquarters in Chandigarh, noting that many four-story building owners had added more floors, anticipating they could be approved retrospectively.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bol Bansal (@bolbansalofficial)

A senior official explained, \”Town planners sought clarification on several cases. In some instances, building plans for stilt plus two floors were approved, but owners went ahead and constructed four floors, intending to pay a compounded fee when applying for an OC. Some buildings even received OCs from architects.\”

DTCP headquarters termed these as grave violations and required an action-taken report from the Senior Town Planner of Gurgaon DTCP, which should include, among other things, the cancellation of OCs and disciplinary measures against the involved architects. District Town Planner (Planning) Rajesh Kaushik added, “The report will be submitted within 10 days following orders issued by our superiors at the headquarters. Architects have also been informed about it, so they are aware of what is expected from them. Since the ban, no OCs should have been issued for any such buildings. Hence, whoever issued OCs will also face consequences.\”