In a major relief for thousands of government employees, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that flats under the UT Employees’ Self-Financing Housing Scheme-2008 will be allotted at the 2008 brochure rates.
The verdict comes after a petition filed by Phool Kumar Saini and others challenged the Chandigarh Housing Board’s (CHB) inaction on the scheme. The petitioners argued that despite a successful draw of lots in 2010, the CHB failed to move forward, causing undue delay and hardship. The court acknowledged the long wait and the applicability of the brochure rates, as promised in 2008.
This is a significant victory for the employees, who faced rising property prices while the scheme remained stalled. Many had even expressed concerns about the CHB prioritizing housing for encroachers over fulfilling its commitment to the scheme’s applicants.
The High Court also clarified that a 2012 Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification regarding land allotment at commercial rates would not apply retrospectively to this scheme. This ensures that employees benefit from the originally promised land cost.
Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Lalit Batra’s detailed judgment is pending. Still, the employees affected by their judgment were given clarity and hope after it was read out. With the approval of land allotment in 2019, there is finally open way to construct apartments and meet the residential scheme’s bid.
This decision introduces a new way out for ensuring there is transparency and accountability when dealing with housing policies on the government level. As well, it calls attention to how crucial it is that we deal with the issue of long-lasting red tape that greatly inconvenienced many people whose applications were under review.
