SC orders municipal bodies to seal residential properties used commercially

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed municipal authorities across India to prioritise action against residential properties being used for commercial purposes, ordering non-compliant buildings to be sealed. A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan warned civic bodies against a 'pick and choose' approach, saying the court will take a strict view of any discrimination.

The directive came after the court expanded a petition originally about illegal constructions in Chennai to a pan-India scale. The bench noted that residential colonies are being converted into commercial areas, causing inconvenience to bona fide residents and straining local infrastructure. The court also said areas where land use is not clearly defined should be evaluated but no action taken against them for now.

The Free Press Journal reported that the court specifically flagged non-compliance in Bhopal, where petitioners alleged that sealed properties were unsealed within hours. The court also noted that Bhopal's Master Plan has not been revised since 1995 and cannot be finalised without its permission. The urban administration minister said a new Master Plan may be published soon.