New Bill on Delhi apartment ownership in the offing

To address the problems of owners of apartments in the national capital, the Government is mulling introduction of a fresh Bill to replace the Delhi Apartment Ownership Act, 1986.
In a meeting with Delhi Members of Parliament, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu assured that a new Bill will be brought in to address the concerns of apartment owners in the city.
However, the proposed Act will not cover cooperative group housing societies and DDA flats in the city as these are out of its purview.
"There is no clarity in the existing act and it has not been enforced fully yet. So there is a need for its complete overhaul to implement its various provisions, said a senior Urban Development Ministry official.

The new Act proposes to make easier the transfer, inheritance and sale of apartment blocks for apartment owners in the city.
It also aims to provide full ownership rights and simplifies the process of buying or selling houses. As of now, owners only get occupancy rights. About 20 lakh people are estimated to be living in Delhi's apartment blocks.

Naidu had called a meeting of Delhi MPs to discuss the issues concerning the city and find a way forward.
Besides apartment ownership, the issues of Delhi rent control, unauthorised colonies, Delhi Master Plan and greenery of the capital were also discussed with four Delhi MPs-Parvesh Verma, Udit Raj, Manoj Tiwari and Ramesh Bidhuri here.

"The problems in apartment ownership Act and Delhi Rent Control Act and regularisation of unauthorised colonies were discussed with the Minister and he has assured us to take it up
earnestly," Raj said after the meeting.
There will be another meeting with Delhi MPs as Naidu has asked them to come up with certain specific suggestions on these issues.