3Enforcement to be kept in abeyance

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any relevant law or any rules, regulations or bye-laws made thereunder, the Central Government shall before the expiry of this Act, take all possible measures to finalise norms, policy guidelines, feasible strategies and make orderly arrangements to deal with the problem of encroachment or unauthorised development in the form of encroachment by slum dwellers and Jhuggi-Jhompri clusters, ¹*** unauthorised colonies, village abadi area (including urban villages), and their extensions, existing farm houses involving construction beyond permissible building limits and schools, dispensaries, religious institutions, cultural institutions, storages, warehouses and godowns used for agricultural inputs or produce (including dairy and poultry) in rural areas built on agricultural land, as mentioned below:--

(a) orderly arrangements for relocation and rehabilitation of slum dwellers and Jhuggi-Jhompri clusters in Delhi in accordance with the provisions of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board Act, 2010 (Delhi Act 7 of 2010) and the Master Plan for Delhi, 2021 to ensure its development in a sustainable, planned and humane manner;

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(c) orderly arrangements pursuant to guidelines and regulations for regularisation of unauthorised colonies, village abadi area (including urban villages) and their extensions, as existed on the 31st day of March, 2002, and where construction took place even beyond that date and ³ [up to the 1st day of June, 2014];

(d) policy regarding existing farm houses involving construction beyond permissible building limits;

(e) policy or plan for orderly arrangement regarding schools, dispensaries, religious institutions, cultural institutions, storages, warehouses and godowns used for agricultural inputs or produce (including dairy and poultry) in rural areas built on agricultural land and guidelines for redevelopment of existing godown clusters (including those for a storage of non-agricultural goods) required to cater to the needs of the people of the National Capital Territory of Delhi;

(f) orderly arrangements in respect of special areas in accordance with the Building Regulations for Special Area, Unauthorised Regularised Colonies and Village Abadis, 2010 within overall ambit of Master Plan in force; and

(g) policy or plan for orderly arrangements in all other areas of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in consonance with the Master Plan on its review.

(2) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (1) and notwithstanding any judgment, decree or order of any court, status quo--

(i) as on the 1st day of January, 2006 in respect of encroachment or unauthorised development;

(ii) in respect of unauthorised colonies, village abadi area (including urban villages) and their extensions, which existed on the 31st day of March, 2002 and where construction took place even beyond that date and ⁴[up to the 1st day of June, 2014], mentioned in sub-section (1);

(iii) in respect of special areas as per the Building Regulations for Special Area, Unauthorised Regularised Colonies and Village Abadis, 2010; and

(iv) in respect of all other areas within the National Capital Territory of Delhi as on the 8th day of February, 2007,

shall be maintained.

Explanation.-- For the purposes of this sub-section, it is hereby clarified that any development approved by the competent authority or the local authority under the relevant laws and the rules or regulations made thereunder, including repairs permissible under the building bye-laws in force, shall continue to remain permitted.

(3) All notices issued by any local authority for initiating action against encroachment or unauthorised development in respect of areas referred to in sub-section (1), shall be deemed to have been suspended and no punitive action shall be taken ⁵[till the 31st day of December, 2020], if--

(a) it is constructed prior to the dates specified for different areas as enumerated in sub-section (2);

(b) it conforms to the safety standards as in force or such other safety requirements as may be notified by the Central Government; and

(c) it complies with the directions with respect to safety, if any, issued by the Central Government:

Provided that in case punitive action is required to be taken by any local authority, prior approval of the Administrator of the National Capital Territory of Delhi or the officer authorised by him in this behalf, shall be obtained by the authority or officer concerned.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Act, the Central Government may, ⁶[at any time before the 31st day of December, 2020], withdraw the exemption by notification in respect of encroachment or unauthorised development mentioned in sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), as the case may be.