Chandigarh, Nov 27: The UT Estate Office has issued a show-cause notice to Hotel Taj in Sector 17 over alleged large-scale structural changes made without mandatory approvals. Officials said the hotel has been given 15 days to respond, or it could face sealing, cancellation of allotment or even resumption of the property.
“The violations are serious in nature and were carried out without any prior permission,” an Estate Office official said, adding that action will proceed ex parte if the hotel skips the hearing.
The notice, issued under the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, states that the property had earlier been governed by the Chandigarh Lease Hold of Site and Building Rules, 1973, and the Chandigarh Sale of Site and Building Rules, 1960. Those provisions stand repealed.
According to officials, allottees must follow the sanctioned building plan and secure approval from the Chief Administrator for any alteration. But a recent inspection found several unauthorised modifications inside the hotel — including an altered fire alarm control room in the basement, a corridor behind the fire lift converted into an office, changes to staircase planning, a parking area turned into storage and modifications in the recreation and driver’s rest rooms.
“These changes were never approved,” an official noted.
The hotel has been directed to remove the violations within two months. If not, proceedings under Rule 14 may begin, which allow sealing, cancellation or removal of the offending portions.
The notice also states that the hotel will have to pay a penalty of ₹6 per square foot per day for the area under violation. Failure to pay will lead to recovery as arrears of land revenue.
