#RealtyNewsRoundup: SC Pulls Up Centre For Not Making Buildings Disabled-Friendly

Realty News Roundup is PropGuide's selection of the day's top stories from the real estate sector.

The Supreme Court recently pulled up the Centre for doing little to make government buildings disabled-friendly. Referring to the government's Accessible India Campaign launched on December 5, 2015, the top court sought the presence of the secretary in charge of the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities in the next hearing.

Amid protests, the Jharkhand government finally managed to pass the Chotanagpur Tenancy and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act amendment bill 2016 through voice vote. The revised law will allow the transfer of agriculture land, owned by tribals, and make it available for non-agricultural use, besides allowing the government to take possession of the land for state development projects.

The Madras High Court rapped the Chennai civic authorities for not revising property tax every four years from 1988. If the revision of the property was carried out according to the rules, the revised fee would have been 25 per cent for residential buildings and 100 per cent for commercial set-ups. The court has sought details from municipal corporation and posted the matter to December 30.

In view of several states suggesting changes in the model Goods and Services Tax (GST) and compensation laws, the GST Council meeting scheduled for November 25 has been postponed to December 2. However, officers' committee of both the Centre and states will meet today to finalise the three draft legislations – Central Goods and Services Tax, Inter-state Goods and Services Tax and compensation laws. These will be placed in the public domain for stakeholders' comments.

Source: Media reports