SDMs to hear cases of building violations

Chandigarh, January 21

The three Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) in the city will soon get powers to hear cases of building violations and misuse of premises.

In addition to their other work, the three UT-cadre officers will have to share the responsibility of issuing notices and hearing the cases. At present, the Assistant Estate Officer (AEO) and the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) hear such cases while exercising quasi judicial powers extended by the Estate Officer.

Estate Officer Mohammed Shayin said the redistribution of work would decrease the pendency of cases.

The Estate Officer is empowered to hear cases of violations under quasi judicial powers enjoyed under the Act. However, due to multiple responsibility, the Estate Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner in the past had distributed part of this work among the AEO and LAO.

A senior UT official said the work had been redistributed to balance load among the officers available with the UT.  
Recently, Upkar Singh had been posted as the AEO and he also holds the charge of Director, IT. The LAO also holds the charge of Director, Social Welfare.
Under the previous orders, the LAO was looking after Sectors 1 to 30 and the Industrial Area, Phase I, while the AEO was given Sectors 31 onwards and the Industrial Area, Phase II. However, now the work would be distributed among five officers. 
“Cases drag on for several years. At present, more than 1,000 cases are pending,” said an official. The cases which were pending for more than five years were under the scanner of the Estate Officer.