Flat hopes rise for the stranded in Dwarka

NEW DELHI: Flats have been built, the housing societies are complete, but there are no occupants. And this is happening in one of the prestigious townships of the city — Dwarka. Thousands have been left in the lurch because the Registrar of Cooperative Housing Societies (RCS) is dilly-dallying on allotment of flats. It's an ordeal for the last 4 years. Pushed to the edge, those who bought flats had no option but to go for self draws for allotments.

But now, there is a ray of hope for regularisation of over 3,000 flats in 28 societies in Dwarka. This, after the intervention of the High Court and Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna. At a recent meeting chaired by the LG, the RCS has been directed to start the process of regularisation of such draws after taking individual affidavit from all members. The LG has also asked the RCS to take another affidavit from the secretary of each society after the self draws. Since October 3 last year, 28 societies have held self-draws.

Those who attended the meeting on April 13 said the LG issued the directions after four judgments by the Delhi High Court, which asked the RCS to take affidavits from individual members and forward their names to the DDA for draw. Already in two cases, the high court has slapped fines on the RCS office for its delaying tactics in allotting flats to members of two Cooperative Group Housing Societies. The court had last year slapped a fine of Rs 15,000 in the case of Apni CGHS. On Thursday, it imposed Rs 10,000 fine on RCS in the case of Jai Bhawani CGHS.

A division bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul was scathing in his remarks. The judge said: "We are pained to note that other than calling upon us to pass the same kind of orders and wasting judicial time, the RCS appears to be doing nothing."

The bench also stated that once principles are set out by the court and accepted, there is no reason why every society must keep on approaching the HC for holding a draw of lots and for seeking allotment. The court has asked RCS to forward names of members to DDA for holding a draw within 10 days. The LG has told RCS officials there should not be any ambiguity in this case. All those who have paid money, have participated in society election and whose names have been incorporated in the annual audited report should be taken as valid members. DDA has also been told to send their representatives to be present in any future self-draws. 

SOURCES - THE TIMES OF INDIA