India News | After Supreme Court Rap, JDA Swings into Action, Serves Notices to Illegal Commercial Units in Jaipur

Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], July 20 (ANI): Weeks after the Supreme Court pulled up civic authorities across the country over rampant misuse of residential properties for commercial purposes, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has initiated enforcement action by issuing notices to alleged illegal commercial establishments operating on residential land in the city.

The latest action comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court's March 25 order directing municipal bodies and development authorities across all state capitals to identify residential areas being illegally used for commercial activities and submit detailed compliance reports. The court had observed that unauthorised commercialisation of residential colonies had become a nationwide problem with serious civic and environmental consequences.

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Among the first visible steps by the JDA is a notice dated July 13 issued under Sections 32(1) and 32(6) of the Jaipur Development Authority Act, 1982, directing an occupant to remove an alleged unauthorised commercial establishment operating on residential land in Bhankrota. The notice alleges that commercial activities, including a beauty lounge, were being run on land earmarked for residential use without statutory approvals and warns of further legal action if the violation is not removed within the stipulated period.

The notice appears to be linked to a long-running dispute involving land in Chimanpura village, Bhankrota, where Rajdarbar Pinkcity Developments Pvt Ltd has alleged that several unauthorised commercial establishments, including resort, furniture shops, boutiques, salons, eateries and garment stores, have come up on land reserved for a residential township. The developer has claimed that repeated representations to authorities, as well as directions from the Jaipur Development Authority Appellate Tribunal and the Rajasthan High Court, had failed to trigger enforcement action.

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The matter subsequently reached the Supreme Court through an impleadment and directions application, where the developer sought action against illegal commercial use of the land while relying on the apex court's pan-India directions issued in March. The applications contend that despite tribunal and High Court orders, authorities had not acted against the alleged encroachments and commercial misuse.

On May 20, the Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction over the response received from several states, observing that affidavits merely listed violations without indicating what action had actually been taken on the ground. The bench directed authorities to file fresh affidavits detailing follow-up measures, including sealing, demolition or other action warranted under law, and cautioned officials against "ritualistic compliance."

The JDA's latest notices are being viewed as among the first enforcement measures taken in Jaipur following the apex court's scrutiny. It remains to be seen whether the authority proceeds with sealing or demolition in cases where violations are found to persist, as envisaged under the Supreme Court's continuing monitoring of illegal commercialisation in residential areas. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)