Hyderabad: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a stay order against the construction of a commercial building currently being developed on a residential plot in Latifabad – Unit 3, Hyderabad, according to a news source. This action came as a follow-up to the directives issued by the Supreme Court (SC)-mandated Water Commission that had previously ruled that residential plots in the city could not be used for commercial purposes.
Hearing a petition filed by the residents of Latifabad Unit 3, a two-judge SHC bench directed the project developer to seize the process of handing over the possessions of commercial units in the mall, in addition to barring any third party from having a stake in the project. The verdict further stated that violation of the order would be considered contempt of court.
The developer has already raised the structure on the
residential plot that spans 1,110 square yards.
As per the petitioner, the builder purchased an old bungalow in the residential area and demolished it, following which he launched a commercial project on the said property.
In response, the developer’s counsel presented several
documents before the court as proof of the plot being converted to commercial property
by the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA); which the court found
dissatisfactory.
The judges also ordered the director of the Sindh Building
Control Authority (SBCA), Hyderabad region, to appear before the court and adjourned
the hearing till February 26.
