Chandigarh, MHA meeting to reach consensus on long-pending policy issues comes a cropper - Hindustan Times
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Chandigarh, MHA meeting to reach consensus on long-pending policy issues comes a cropper

By, Chandigarh
Aug 09, 2022 02:21 AM IST

Chandigarh takes up issues of allowing conversion of leasehold commercial and industrial properties to freehold, and rationalisation of misuse charges; but no decision was taken by MHA

There was no breakthrough in resolving Chandigarh’s long-pending policy issues even as UT adviser and the joint secretary of Union ministry of home affairs met in Delhi on Monday.

While the leasehold to freehold conversion and misuse charges were at the centrestage of the Chandigarh-MHA meeting on Monday, the UT administration also reminded the MHA about other pending issues, including the city-specific Tenancy Act, creation of new posts and extension of posts that lapsed during the Covid-19 period. (HT)
While the leasehold to freehold conversion and misuse charges were at the centrestage of the Chandigarh-MHA meeting on Monday, the UT administration also reminded the MHA about other pending issues, including the city-specific Tenancy Act, creation of new posts and extension of posts that lapsed during the Covid-19 period. (HT)

The UT took up the issues of allowing conversion of leasehold commercial and industrial properties to freehold, and the rationalisation of misuse charges with MHA officials.

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“The UT once again submitted all relevant documents and explained these in details. The queries of MHA officials were also answered, but there was no decision by them,” said a senior UT official.

While the conversion and misuse charges were at the centrestage of the UT-MHA meeting on Monday, the UT also reminded the MHA about other pending issues, including the city-specific Tenancy Act, creation of new posts and extension of posts that lapsed during the Covid-19 period. “But there was no discussion on these issues, as the focus remained on the conversion matter,” the official said.

The adviser is also learnt to have later met the Union home secretary to brief him on these issues.

The MHA and UT officials are working against the clock, with the Supreme Court directing them to resolve the issues by August 29 or appear in person.

Taking a serious note of the UT administration passing the buck to the MHA on long-pending policy matters, the Supreme Court on July 20 had asked the UT adviser to meet the MHA joint secretary and sort them out within a month.

Both were directed to appear before the apex court on the next date of hearing in the “Estate Office versus Charanjit Kaur” case on August 29 if they fail to resolve the issues.

Another meeting likely soon

Officials are likely to meet again, most likely virtually, in a couple of days. “Another meeting might be scheduled on Wednesday or Thursday through video conferencing,” said a UT official.

The UT administration took more than a decade to finally decide to allow conversion of leasehold commercial and industrial properties to freehold. In April last year, it had submitted a detailed proposal with MHA for its in-principle approval for allowing the conversion on the pattern of the 1996 residential policy. But even after four reminders to MHA, no decision has been arrived at.

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