CHANDIGARH, May 23: — Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a temporary ban on all new construction activities in Kharar, citing the absence of a valid and notified master plan for the region. The stay order will remain in effect until May 27, pending further directions.
The interim order was passed in the ongoing case of Omega Infra Estate Private Limited vs. Rahul Tiwari and others. The court expressed serious concern over unregulated and haphazard construction that has proliferated due to the lack of an approved urban development plan.
The original master plan for Kharar was drafted in 2010 and remained valid until 2020. A revised plan was prepared that same year but, despite the passage of five years, it has yet to be formally notified.
“Due to the absence of a notified master plan, construction across Kharar is being carried out in an unorganized and arbitrary manner,” the court noted. It further observed that the unchecked development posed risks to sustainable urban growth and public infrastructure.
In response to a petition filed by a builder seeking timely notification of the new plan, the court had last year directed the Punjab government to act within eight weeks. However, no substantive progress has been made. The current stay order was issued after a contempt petition was filed for non-compliance with those directions.
The court has now demanded a detailed explanation from the state government by May 27. It noted that construction permissions are being granted on the condition that they conform to the provisions of the yet-to-be-notified master plan — a move it viewed as both vague and legally untenable.
“This is not a sustainable or lawful approach to urban development,” the court remarked while suspending all new construction approvals in the area.
The case is set to continue as the court reviews the government’s compliance and future course of action.
