Law & Policy

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Mohali Deputy Mayor urges swift inclusion of seven villages

Author : PNT Bureau

As the panchayat elections near, the issue of incorporating seven villages into Mohali's municipal limits resurfaces. The proposal, initially approved by the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) in 2021, remains unresolved. Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi has urged the Punjab government to finalise the inclusion of villages like Balongi and Mauli Baidwan. Bedi warns that a delay could create governance confusion post-election. Inclusion would grant residents access to urban amenities and foster development. With elections approaching, swift action is deemed crucial for organised local governance and fulfilling residents' aspirations....

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Odisha government orders demolition of 191 illegal structures in Bhubaneswar

Author : PNT Bureau

The Odisha government is ramping up efforts to combat illegal construction in Bhubaneswar, with Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra announcing the demolition of 191 unauthorised buildings. A total of 491 illegal construction cases have been recorded within the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) jurisdiction, with 63 resolved and 237 pending in court. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported 1,444 illegal cases, with 993 still unresolved. The government's actions aim to enforce compliance with building laws, ensure urban safety, and promote sustainable development in the rapidly growing city....

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Karnataka High Court decision eases stamp duty burden in property transactions

Author : PNT Bureau

The Karnataka High Court clarified that once an absolute sale deed is executed and stamped, the earlier agreement of sale no longer requires stamp duty. This ruling, by Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, aims to streamline property transactions and reduce tax burdens on buyers and sellers. The court emphasized that the sale deed, once in place, overrides previous agreements, making them irrelevant for stamp duty purposes. This decision, stemming from a partition suit in Haveri, enhances clarity in real estate transactions and may improve efficiency in Karnataka's property market by discouraging unnecessary penalties....

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Citizens respond positively to waterborne, vector-borne, and epidemic disease awareness camps

Author : PNT Bureau

To combat malaria, dengue, and waterborne diseases, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has initiated special awareness camps. These camps, organized by the NMMC Health Department across 24 Urban Primary Health Centres, aim to educate citizens on disease prevention and health practices. On August 28th, over 13,000 residents participated in these camps, and 1,216 blood samples were collected. Five such camps have already benefited 40,825 citizens. The camps include demonstrations on preventing mosquito breeding, such as covering water storage and maintaining cleanliness. NMMC Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde urges residents to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and adhere to hygiene practices to control disease outbreaks effectively....

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Bengaluru civic body orders contractors to clear construction debris or face penalties

Author : PNT Bureau

Bengaluru's civic body has issued a strict directive to contractors, mandating the timely removal of construction debris from project sites or face financial penalties. This initiative addresses the growing issue of construction waste obstructing public spaces, hindering traffic, and posing health risks. Contractors are now responsible for maintaining cleanliness throughout the project lifecycle, with regular inspections by officials ensuring compliance. Fines will be imposed based on the severity of violations. The directive is welcomed by residents, who have long complained about debris-related hazards. To aid compliance, the civic body plans to establish designated debris disposal zones across the city. This move aims to enhance urban living conditions and promote sustainable practices as Bengaluru continues to grow....

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Noida Authority moves to reclaim 13 acres from Unitech after years of no development

Author : PNT Bureau

The Noida Authority plans to reclaim 13 acres of a 24-acre plot in Sector 144, originally allotted to Unitech Group in 2011 for residential development but left undeveloped. The land is not part of an ongoing Supreme Court case involving Unitech's unfinished projects, enabling the Authority to cancel the allotment. Despite a proposal from Unitech to build new towers and houses on the vacant land to fund its incomplete projects, the Authority opposed it. A final decision from the Supreme Court is awaited to determine whether the Authority can proceed with reclaiming the land....

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Haryana RERA orders OSB Expressway Towers project be completed within six months

Author : PNT Bureau

H-RERA met with the homebuyers concerned with the delays in the OSB Expressway Towers project in Sector 109, Gurgaon, and has issued a final warning to the builder. The project, which has been delayed for more than seven years, must be completed within the next six months. If the builder fails to meet this deadline, H-RERA may transfer control of the project to a buyers' association or bring in a third-party builder to finish the work. This decision is intended to protect the rights and interests of the homebuyers who have been waiting for their homes for an extended period....

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Goa government to impose INR 1 crore fine for ESZ violations

Author : PNT Bureau

The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has announced fines of up to INR 1 crore for illegal hill cutting activities. TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane clarified that no permissions for hill cutting were granted in the past six months. To prevent future violations, the department will introduce new guidelines, including mandatory soil stabilisation reports. These measures are aimed at ensuring the stricter enforcement of environmental laws and holding offenders accountable. The Goa government is aiming to crack down heavily on offenders and to protect the environment. These measures will ensure strong action against those who engage in illegal activities in Goa....

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Acquiring property through illicit income deemed 'Benami Transaction' by Appellate Tribunal

Author : PNT Bureau

The Appellate Tribunal has ruled that acquiring property using illicit income qualifies as a "benami transaction" under the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act. This ruling follows a case involving an agriculture department employee who acquired property worth INR 4.58 crore through unlawful means. The case now awaits the Supreme Court's judgment on whether the Benami law can be applied retrospectively, meaning penalties could apply even for transactions completed before the law was updated. The ruling emphasizes the government's stance against illegal financial practices and attempts to prevent money laundering through property transactions....

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Gautam Buddhnagar to e-auction industrial plots up to 8,000 sqm after policy changes

Author : PNT Bureau

Gautam Buddhnagar is changing its industrial land allocation policy. The new plan includes e-auctions for plots up to 8,000 square meters and a return to previous methods for larger plots. This decision follows a review led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and aims to balance land allocation between small and large businesses. Earlier, e-auctions were replaced by interviews, but smaller entrepreneurs criticized this change. The new policy will start soon, but concerns still exist about favoritism towards larger investors....