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TAMIL NADU LAWS (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) ACT, 2008
T.N. Act No.56/2008
TAMIL NADU LAWS (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) ACT, 2008
(Received the Assent of the Governor of Tamil Nadu on November 29, 2008 — Published in Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Extraordinary, Part IV, Section 2, Iss. No.364, pages 253-256, dated December 2, 2008.
Explanatory Statement:See T.N. Ordinance No.4/2008 — Refer 2008 (2) CTAR 1.119)
An Act to make special provisions for Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area for a period of one year and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
WHEREAS, there had been rapid increase in the population owing to industrialization, migration and various other factors, putting pressure on land and infrastructure in the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area leading to unauthorized developments which are not in conformity with the First Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area in force, the Development Control Rules contained therein and the Building Rules, Regulations and Bye-laws;
AND WHEREAS, the Government have constituted a Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge to look into all aspects of developments and to suggest necessary modifications to the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tami Nadu Act 35 of1972);
AND WHEREAS, it is expected that the recommendations of the Committee aforesaid may involve substantial amendments to the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 35 of 1972) and some with retrospective effect, and in particular to the provisions relating to construction and use of the premises, thereby changing the position as obtaining now under the said Act;
AND WHEREAS, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has prepared the Draft Master Plan 11 for Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area, with the perspective year 2026 keeping in view the emerging new dimensions in urban development, which has been published for public objections and suggestions giving time upto 31.8.2007. The Draft Second Master Plan after public consultation and modification as suggested by the Government was resubmitted to Government on 29th February 2008. The Government have approved the said Draft Master Plan-II for Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area, 2026 and the same has been published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Extraordinary dated the 2nd September 2008.
AND WHEREAS, a comprehensive policy for the improvement of slum areas and resettlement of the people in slum area wherever necessary in the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area is contemplated by the State Government;
AND WHEREAS, a detailed study of the issues relating to unauthorized occupation by the vendors and hawkers in the public street is contemplated with a view to evolving a scheme for regulating their activities in terms of the Master Plan II;
AND WHEREAS, action for violation of the provisions of the First Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area in force and Development Control Rules contained therein, before a final view is taken in the matter by the Government may cause avoidable hardship and irreparable loss to a large number of people including small traders;
AND WHEREAS, the Tamil Nadu Laws (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2007 (Tamil Nadu Ordinance 1 of 2007), which was replaced by the Tamil Nadu (Special Provisions) Act, 2007 (Tamil Nadu Act 39 of 2007) was challenged before the High Court of Madras, and it was quashed by a Division Bench of the High Court of Madras;
AND WHEREAS, in the Special Leave Petitions filed before the Supreme Court of India against the above Judgement of High Court of Madras, quashing the above said Tamil Nadu Ordinance 1 of 2007 and the said Tamil Nadu Act 39 of 2007, the Supreme Court has ordered that status quo as on 14.12.2007 shall be maintained until further orders and the petitioners shall not pass any order of regularization in the meantime;
AND WHEREAS, the validity of the said Tamil Nadu Act 39 of 2007 is pending before the Supreme Court of India and the said Tamil Nadu Act 39 of2007 would cease to operate from the 27th day of July 2008.
AND WHEREAS, there is a need to make provisions to deal with deviations which may be marginal or gross in nature in a balanced and just manner without compromise on the safety and transport mobility but at the same time keeping in view the sprit and text of judicial pronouncements;
AND WHEREAS, the modem requirements of fire safety precautions in commercial and shopping centers should be gone through thoroughly evolving a safety measure and to make provisions to empower the planning authority suitably;
AND WHEREAS, the Government will require more time to consider the report of the committee headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge and there is an urgent need for deferring enforcement action against unauthorized buildings;
AND WHEREAS, the purpose and objective of the Tamil Nadu Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2007 has not been subserved and it is expedient to have a law to provide temporary relief to the people of Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area against such action for a period up to 26th July, 2009 within which various issues referred to above to be finalized;
AND WHEREAS, it is expedient to have a law for a period of one year to provide temporary relief and to minimize hardships and irreparable loss to a large number of people including small traders;
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Tamil Nadu in the Fifty-ninth Year of the republic of India as follows:—
1. Short title extent, commencement and duration.— (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2008.
(2) It extends to the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area.
(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 27th day of July 2008.
(4) It shall cease to have effect on the expiry of one year from the date of its commencement, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such cesser, and upon such cesser Section 8 of the Tamil Nadu General Clauses Act, 1891 (Tamil Nadu Act 1 of 1891), shall apply as if this Act had then been repealed by a Tamil Nadu Act.
2. Definitions.— (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) "building Rules, Regulations and Bye-laws" means Rules, Regulations and Bye-laws made under the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 (Tamil Nadu Act 4 of 1919), the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920 (Tamil Nadu Act 5 of 1920) and the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994) as the case may be, relating to buildings;
(b) "Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area" means the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area specified under Clause (23-a) of Section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 35 of 1972);
(c) "detailed development plan" means a detailed development plan approved under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 35 of 1972), in respect of any area covered under the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area;
(d) "Development Control Rules" means the Development Control Rules for Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area;
(e) "Government" means the State Government;
(f) "local authority" means the Chennai City Municipal Corporation established under the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 (Tamil Nadu Act 4 of 1919) or Municipalities or Town Panchayats (within Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area) established under the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920 (Tamil Nadu Act 5 of 1920) or Panchayat Unions or Village Panchayats (within Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area) established under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994) or the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority constituted under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 35 of
1972), legally entitled to exercise control in respect of the areas under their respective jurisdictions;
1972), legally entitled to exercise control in respect of the areas under their respective jurisdictions;
(g) "Master Plan" means the Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area, published under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 35 of 1972);
(h) "public street" means public street as defined in Clause (37) of Section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 35 of 1972);
(i) "punitive action" means action taken by Local Authority within Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area under the relevant law against unauthorized development and shall include demolition, whether in pursuance of Court orders or otherwise;
(j) "relevant law" means in case of—
(i) the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 35 of 1972);
(ii) the Chennai City Municipal Corporation, the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 (Tamil Nadu Act 4 of 1919);
(iii) the Municipalities and Town Panchayats, the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920 (Tamil Nadu Act 5 of 1920); and
(iv) the Panchayat Unions and Village Panchayats, the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994);
(k) "unauthorized development" means use of any land or any building or construct-ion of any building carried out,—
(i) in deviation from any planning permission or building permit; or
(ii) without obtaining any planning permission or building permit; or
(iii) in contravention of the land use zoning under the Master Plan or any approved detailed development plan; or
(iv) in contravention of the Development Control Rules for Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area, Building Rules, Regulations, Bye-laws applicable to areas within the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area;
and includes unauthorized occupation by hawkers and street vendors in the public street and by the people in the slum area;
(2) The words and expressions used but not defined herein shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 35 of 1972), the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 (Tamil Nadu Act 4 of 1919), the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920 (Tamil Nadu Act 5 of 1920) and the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1994).
3.Government to finalise norms and policy guidelines, etc.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any relevant law or any Rules, Regulations or Bye-laws made thereunder, the Government shall within a period of one year from the date of commencement of this Act, take all possible measures, with due regard to environment, to finalise norms, policy guidelines and feasible strategies to deal with the problems of unauthorized developments with regard to the under mentioned categories, namely:—
(a) land use not conforming to, the Master Plan, detailed development plans or any planning permission;
(b) construction in deviation from or beyond planning permission or building permit;
(c) development without any planning permission or building permit; and
(d) unauthorized occupation by, the hawkers and street vendors, in the public street and by the people in slum area,
so that the developments of Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area take place in a sustainable and planned manner.
(2) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (1) and notwithstanding any judgement, decree or order of any Court, status quo as on the date of the commencement of this Act shall be maintained in respect of the categories of unauthorized development mentioned in sub-section (1).
(3) All notices issued by any local authority or any authority empowered under relevant law for initiating action against the categories of unauthorized development mentioned in sub-section (1) prior to 27th day of July 2007 shall be deemed to have been suspended and no punitive action shall be taken during the said period of one year.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Act, the Government may, at any time, before the expiry of one year withdraw the concession given in sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) as the case may be, by notification in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette in respect of the categories of unauthorized development mentioned in sub-section (1).
4. The provisions of this Act not to apply in certain cases.— During the period of operation of this Act, no relief shall be available under Section 3 in respect of the following categories of unauthorized development, namely:—
(a) any unauthorized development started or continued on or after the 27th day of July 2007;
(b) commencement of any activity anywhere in the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area in violation of the provisions of the Master Plan or any detailed development plan on or after the 27th day of July 2007;
(c) unauthorized occupation on public street except in those cases which are covered under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of Section 3; and
(d) removal of people in slum area, hawkers and street vendors in accordance with policies of the Government, for clearance of land required for any public project.
5. Act to over-ride other laws.— The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law made by the Legislature of the State for the time being in force.
6. Power to give directions.— The Government may, from time to time, issue such directions to any Local Authority or any authority under any relevant law as it may deem fit, for giving effect to the provisions of this Act and it shall be the duty of such Local Authority or authority to comply with such directions.
7. Repeal and saving.— (1) The Tamil Nadu Laws (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2008 (Tamil Nadu Ordinance 4 of 2008) is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal anything done, any action taken or any direction given under the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done, taken or given under this Act.
