Lawyers-doctors exempted to pay conversion charges

New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) Delhi High Court today stayed the payment of conversion and parking charges as demanded by DDA and MCD from the professionals till July 10, 2007.

Vacation Bench comprising Justices H R Malhotra and Hima Kohli exempted the lawyers and the doctors from paying the conversion charges as they fall under the category of professionals.

Giving an interim relief, the bench restrained Ministry of Urban Development, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Muncipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD) to collect mixed use charges from professional people.

The Court Issued notices to the ministry of Urban Developement, DDA and MCD to show cause by July 10, as to why the writ petition filed by the doctors and lawyers be not admitted.

The bench stayed the operation of the notification issued by the Government on November 20, 2006 demanding the mixed Land use charges and parking charges from the professionals operating from the mixed land use area and residential areas.

The lawyers approached the Delhi High court seeking relief as the Master plan 2021 permits the advocates to use the residential premises for the professional purposes to the extent of 50 per cent which cannot be circumvented by conditions as contained in the regulations issued by DDA on November 20,2006.The regulations drafted by dda are contrary to the Masterplan.

According to the petitioner Amarjeet Singh Chandiok, Pesident of the Delhi High Court Bar association, the Masterplan does not mention levelling of any conversion charges or parking charges.

According to the petition,a matter relating to the conversion charges and parking charges is pending with the Supreme Court.

But no such order was produced in the court today. The bench therefore gave an interim relief to the lawyers and doctors .

The doctors approaced the court seeking relief on the same grounds. Their petition says that the Notification was issued by DDA on November 20, 2006 and after that the Master Plan 2021 was introduced on February 7,2007, therefore, the notification demanding parking and conversion charges should automatically be cancelled.

UNI