New Delhi, Oct 14: The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict on an application filed by the union government seeking vacation of its two-year-old order staying an official notice allowing additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for residential houses in the capital. A bench comprising Justice Rajendra Babu and Justice G P Mathur reserved its order after hearing in detail Additional Solicitor General Mukul Rohtagi and Amicus Curiae Ranjit Kumar in the matter.
The court on December 11, 2001 had stayed the press note issued by the government on November 27, 2001 on the contention of the Amicus that it allowed additional floors.
The apex court had said this would further put pressure on the already strained infrastructure like sewage, road and water facilities and added that additional floors could not be allowed to be constructed without first augmenting the civic facilities.
Rohtagi said an erroneous impression was created to the effect that the government was allowing an additional dwelling unit in the existing residential unit.
He said government had allowed only a little increase in the floor area ratio allowing the top floor to have an additional room keeping in mind that the families were growing and were crammed for want of space.
At no point of time, the government felt that additional dwelling unit be permitted, he said and added that the increased floor area coverage did not permit having an additional kitchen in the top floor.
Bureau Report