Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court recently made it clear that approval must be obtained prior to constructing rooms for watchmen and toilets on stilt floors in residential complexes.
Justice T. Vinod Kumar stated that although Rule 13 of the Telangana Building Rules (2012) as per Government Order Ms No.168 dated April 7, 2012 allows a watchman room and two toilets (WC) on stilt floors with maximum built up area of 25 square metres, that does not automatically permit builders to proceed without first obtaining building approval for such construction projects.
Judge Jaffray was hearing a petition filed by residents of Annapurna Apartments of CTO Colony in Kothapet, alleging that civic authorities were threatening to tear down a watchman’s room on a stilt floor.
They argued that it violated 2012 building rules, which stipulate that space intended to be shared facilities cannot be sold off and should remain part of a complex. Therefore, according to residents’ arguments, civic authorities’ action was arbitrary.
GHMC counsel argued that for apartment complexes, buildings or blocks of residential nature with sites up to 750 sq.m, parking requirements shall be considered satisfied if an entire stilt floor is reserved for parking; further, 30 percent of built-up area should be allocated towards parking in residential complexes; also noting the petitioners’ apartment approval did not specify watchman’s room as required, which was a violation of the watchman part 3 clause in the building regulations.
After carefully considering all arguments presented to it, the court found that permission was essential for building a watchmen’s room. Giving relief to petitioners, the court directed them to file an application under Section 455-A of the GHMC Act in order to have regularization consideration by civic authorities.
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