Treat premises being used by lawyers in housing societies as 'domestic activity' under Delhi Master Plan, BCD

The Bar Council of Delhi has written to the Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affair, Hardeep Singh Puri to treat basement and other premises being used by lawyers in housing societies in the city as part of 'domestic activity'.

The Bar Council of Delhi has thus sought necessary amendement to Clause 15.8 of the Master Plan for Delhi - 2021.

In its present form, Clause 15.8 treats services offered by lawyers as a professional activity and imposes certain conditions on it when it is carried out from plotted development and group housing.

For instance, the Clause states that professional activity in group housing and plotted development socities with multiple dwelling units shall be permitted on any floor subject to maximum of 50% of the permissible or sanctioned Floor to Area Ratio, whichever is less, of each dwelling unit.

The letter claims that due to Clause 15.8 of the Master Plan, not only 'conversion charges' are being recovered from legal professionals but some offices have also been sealed for an alleged violation of the Clause.

The Bar has iterated that practising legal profession is not a commercial activity and thus an amendment in Clause 15.8 of MPD-2021 was essential insofar as lawyers were concerned.

It is added that the amendment would save all the lawyers in Delhi, especially those who are using basements and other premises for their professional activities, from harassment and humiliation by the authorities.

The letter further asserts that the Clause would impact more than 70,000 advocates in Delhi and the amendment sought was reasonable, justified, bonafide.

The letter also informs that communication in this regard were also addressed to the Lieutenant Governor and the Minister of Urban Development, Delhi Government in 2018.

Read the Letter: