Supreme Court Orders National Inquiry into Illegal Commercial Conversions

The Supreme Court has expanded the scope of a plea regarding unauthorized land use to a pan-India level, addressing the rampant conversion of residential areas into commercial zones.

A Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R Mahadevan observed that such illegal practices cause significant civic and environmental prejudice to bona fide residents.

The Court impleaded municipal authorities of all State and Union Territory capital cities, directing them to conduct comprehensive inquiries within their jurisdictions.

Commissioners must now file detailed affidavits identifying residential areas misused for non-residential purposes.

[Loganathan v. The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors.]