LHC bars housing schemes from acting against residents

The Lahore High Court has issued its verdict in a case relating to the legality of private housing schemes, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday. 

The LHC single bench directed the chief secretary to issue a circular on the mechanism for filing complaints with the government committee formed to redress grievances related to private housing schemes. 

The court ordered no scheme will operate against the residents without the approval of the government committee. It passed the orders on the petition of Rao Zafar Mahmood Khan and others.

Punjab Additional Advocate General submitted to the court the notification of the committee. The court expressed its satisfaction with the formation of a government committee to redress grievances. The court was told that the six-member committee under the housing secretary will take up the issues related to the legality of housing schemes and the collection of charges and fines

The complaints about the housing schemes in LDA limits should be received at the one window cell of the authority and its director general will be bound to ensure that these complaints are brought before the committee.

The complaints about the schemes outside LDA limits should be received at the DC office and the DC will be bound to ensure that the grievances are placed before the committee.

The court directed the residents and owners of all private housing schemes to approach the government committee. Complaints against the committee can be filed in court, the order said.

Deputy Attorney General Asad Bajwa informed the court about the procedure for receiving the application of the affected party.