HC upholds Akrama Sakrama Scheme

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court has upheld the government's controversial Akrama-Sakrama Scheme that sought to regularise building violations for a penalty fee.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice SK Mukherjee and Justice RB Budihal dismissed a batch of petitions that challenged the state government's amendment to the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, which allowed for regularising building violations such as set-back and floor area.

The high court observed "there is no merit in these petitions." The petitioners were Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development, JP Nagar 7th-8th phase RWA and others.

Commercial establishments and residential buildings violating 25 per cent and 50 per cent of the building byelaws -pertaining to setback and floor area respectively -can be regularised under the Akrama-Sakrama scheme by paying a certain fine.

The scheme is applicable to all layouts and buildings in Karnataka that have come up before October 19, 2013.The government hopes to generate Rs 10,000-15,000 crore through regularisation fees.