Srinagar, Aug 30 (KDC): The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday sealed a double-storey structure in Methan Lal Nagar, Chanapora, after finding that it was illegally converted into a commercial property in violation of building permission norms, officials said.
According to SMC officials, the property owned by Ms. Hafeeza Akhter was granted permission in May 2010 for construction of a residential house. However, enforcement inspections revealed major deviations from the approved plan and its conversion into a commercial unit. This prompted a show-cause notice and a demolition order in August 2018.
The matter was challenged before the J&K Special Tribunal, which initially ordered status quo in September 2018. In January this year, the Tribunal dismissed the appeal, upheld the demolition order, and allowed rectification within a stipulated time under SMC’s supervision.
Officials said that despite being granted multiple extensions — including one on compassionate grounds after the death of Ms. Akhter’s husband in March 2024 — the owner failed to carry out the required alterations. A final show-cause notice for sealing was issued on May 1, 2025, but her reply was found unsatisfactory.
“With all legal remedies exhausted and unauthorized commercial use persisting, the Commissioner ordered sealing of the structure under the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, and the J&K Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2021,” an SMC official told KDC.
The sealed premises have been placed under joint custodial supervision (Superdari) of the SHO Chanapora and the Ward Officer of Ward 31, the official added.
