People are living on platforms. Ban purchase of more than 1 house: Madras HC

The Madras High Court on Tuesday suggested a ban on individuals purchasing more than one house to control the escalation of house prices and to achieve ‘Housing for All.’

"Why not the government restrict families/individuals from purchasing more than one housing unit/flat/plot till Housing for All is achieved? Why not the government charge 100% more or extra stamp duty to discourage buying more than one house by a family while purchasing the second house? Why not the government conditionally allow the families to purchase more than one house provided they pay 100% extra-statutory dues like property tax, electricity charges, water and sewerage charges on the second property?" Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice Abdul Quddhose questioned.

Lakhs of people are living on platforms, roads, cement pipes, slums, under the tress and on banks of water bodies without proper shelter. The central government's policy decision to provide a housing unit to every family should be achieved at the earliest.

The bench directed the Union ministries of finance and housing to answer a series of queries including about how many families have basic housing amenity, population and housing ratio in India as well as in Tamil Nadu.

The bench also directed the authorities to inform whether the Centre and State have got any special schemes to provide housing for the marginalized and economically weaker sections including SC/ST communities in addition to details of the number of families that possess more than one house.