CHENNAI: The constitution of five member Justice S Rajeswaran committee to frame guidelines for effective implementation of regularization of illegal buildings built till July 1, 2007 under Section 113-C of Town and Country Planning Act has been reduced to four with the transfer of commissioner of Town and Country Planning.
The Housing and Urban Development department constituted the five member committee headed by former high court judge Justice S Rajeshwaran on November 8.
However, with the post of commissioner of Town and Country Planning lying vacant, with the transfer R Venkatesan to revenue department, the committee has been reduced to four.
Sources said that CMDA member secretary A Karthik is also taking care of the responsibilities of DTCP.
Other members of the panel include head of the department of the school of architecture and planning, Anna University, S R Masilamani as well as Chief Planner of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
Interestingly, Masilamani’s inclusion into the committee has been opposed by Association of Professional Town Planners secretary A Jaganathan. APTP has been opposing the membership examination called Associate Member in Institute of Town Planners, India (AITP) being conducted by ITPI. It is claimed to be equivalent to B Plan and M Plan
and has been awarded to persons who don’t have relevant qualifications.
Their contention is Masilamani who has got Msc statistics got into planning through AITP membership examination conducted by ITPI and later got PhD in planning from Anna University. “We opposed Anna University move to award PhD to him. We have also approached AICTE to take appropriate action on Institute of Town Planners, India for
conducting examinations and awarding the AITP certificate,” he said.
It is learnt that Rajeshwaran committee already had held three sittings to frame fresh guidelines for regularization of illegal buildings built till July 1, 2007 under Section 113-C after Madras High Court quashed two Government Orders. Interestingly, when Justice Mohan committee was formed to bring in amendments to the Town and country Planning Act, stakeholders from various fields were involved. However, such a thing is lacking when guidelines are being prepared to implement the amendment to Town and Country Planning Act, sources said.
Designation and Department Members
Justice S Rajeshwaran Chairaman
(Retd HC judge)
Commissioner of Town and Member/ convenor
Country Planning
Member Secy Member
CMDA
HOD of School of Arch and Member
Planning, Anna University
Chief Planner Member
CMDA