Chandigarh Housing Board takes action against illegal sale/transfer of small flats

Chandigarh Housing Board takes action against illegal sale/transfer of small flats

Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has taken action against illegal sale and transfer of small flats. The Board has cancelled allotment of 83 flats and issued notices to 540 defaulters.

CHB has allotted about 18,138 flats under Small Flats Scheme including 2,000 flats under the Affordable Rental Housing Complex Scheme. These flats have been allotted for the occupation of the allottee and their families on monthly license fee and cannot be sold/sub-let/transferred/handed over to other persons.

During the months of June/July 2022, door to door surveys were conducted and it was observed that out of the total 18,138 Small Flats/ARHCS flats, 15,995 flats were retained by the original allottees. Out of remaining 2,143 small flats, 1,117 flats were found occupied by other unauthorized persons, 636 were found locked, and 168 occupants denied to give information to the survey teams.

Thereafter, in the Month of November 2022, a second survey was conducted for remaining small flats found locked during the previous survey. All the survey reports were uploaded on the website of the CHB www.chbonline.in from time to time.

Out of 2,143 small flats, notices have been served to 540 defaulters till date. After hearing and giving sufficient opportunity of personal hearing, only 83 occupants failed to prove their bonafide. Therefore, cancellation proceedings were initiated against them after following due procedure. 83 flats have been cancelled till date with the liberty to file an appeal.

There is a well-defined procedure for availing legal remedy. Appeal can be filed with Secretary Estate within 30 days of the issue of cancellation orders. A list of such cancelled flats and a copy of the cancellation orders have also been uploaded on the website of the CHB. The order of Appellate Authority can be challenged before Hon’ble High Court and Apex court. Till date no occupant has been evicted due to filing of appeals before Secretary Estate by such allottees. Hence there is no need for the affected persons to panic.

Rumours floating regarding immediate eviction in such cases should be ignored.

It has also been observed that some of the allottees are not paying the monthly license fee of Rs. 800 on regular basis since the date of occupation of these small flats and an approximate amount of Rs. 52 Crores has become due against these willful defaulters. The list of allottees with outstanding dues has been uploaded on the website of the Chandigarh Housing Board. The outstanding dues can be paid online on the website of the CHB www.chbonline.in and also at any of the Sampark Center.

In those cases where allotment has been cancelled, the occupier of the flat can, for restoration of allotment, (i) prove his/her bonafide, (ii) clear all the pending dues with applicable interest and (iii) pay revival charges.

In case any allottee of Small Flat/ARHC Flats does not want to occupy the flats further, then he/she can surrender the flats to Chandigarh Housing Board and take refund of the security amount, if any.

Chandigarh Housing Board, small flats, illegal sale and transfer, cancellation of allotment, notices to defaulters, restoration of allotment, surrender of flats