The Karnataka government’s eagerly awaited ‘Akrama-Sakrama’ scheme suffered a major setback with the Supreme Court ordering a stay on the scheme.
Admitting a special leave petition filed by the Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) and converting the same into a civil appeal, the SC has granted interim protection that no applications under the scheme shall be processed and thus granting a stay over the scheme.
The Bengaluru-based NBF had filed the petition and hearing the petition, the SC refused to expedite the hearings as pleaded by the BBMP and state government.
Aimed at regularising unauthorised buildings across IT city, the Karnataka government had thought of Akrama-Sakrama several years ago. However, the project hit a roadblock for various reasons.
Following the Karnataka HC ruling recently, the state government had announced that it will soon notify the scheme and invite applications from property owners for regularisation of illegal constructions.
The Akrama-Sakarama Scheme:
Passed in 2013, the Akrama-Sakrama in Bangalore came into force on March 23, 2015. This scheme is the result of amendments made to several Acts, including the Karnataka Town and Country Act, and is called the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Regularisation of unauthorised Developments) Rules 2013.
The Act provides for enabling regularisation of properties that violate buildings norms, without demolishing them.
Akrama-Sakarama scheme is applicable only on the properties built on or before October 19, 2013, and is not applicable to under-construction properties.
Akrama-Sakarama scheme provides for one-time regularisation of up to 50 per cent setback and floor space index (FSI) violations in case of residential constructions. In case of commercial buildings, the setback limit is kept at 25 per cent.
Under Akrama-Sakarama scheme, illegally formed plots can also be regularised after paying a penalty.