Orissa HC Directs CDA To Change Norms For Ownership Transfer Of Plots

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has directed the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) to change the norms on transfer of plot sold to a buyer in Sector-13 of Bidanasi project in the city.

The High Court issued the direction on Thursday after considering a petition filed in this regard seeking its intervention. The petitioner stated that the CDA had allotted a plot to him in Sector 13 of Bidanasi project area on February 26, 2007. The Bidanasi project is a residential satellite township being developed by CDA in the south western side of the city.

While, the CDA has not carried out infrastructure development in the project till date, it was refusing to transfer the plot in his name on the ground that he had not constructed a building on the land.

As per the norms set by the state government in 2015, the transfer of plot can be made two years after the date of lease-cum-sale of a plot provided a house is built there.

After hearing the petition, the single-judge bench of Justice CR Dash said unless the residential area is fully developed with infrastructure like roads, electricity connection, drainage, it will be unreasonable to expect an allottee to build a house on the plot.

“If a person has been allotted a plot for 13 years, his money is blocked and now he is facing grave problem and is unable to sell the property to meet his legal necessity, then it will be unjust to him”, TNIE quoted Justice Dash as stating in the order.

“In that view of the matter, I think as far as it relates to sale of the plot with houses built thereon in Sector-13 of Bidanasi project area, residential development should not be made applicable”, Justice Dash ruled.