Five-member Rajeshwaran committee reduced to four as TN frames fresh guidelines to implement Section 113-c

C Shivakumar

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