DTCP seeks HC nod to conduct flat allotment draw again in Gurugram

                The Department of Town and Country Planning 
(DTCP) has found that a technical glitch in its 
software portal led to the faulty allotment of 
flats in an affordable housing project in 
Sohna, prompting the department to put the 
draw on hold. The department had initially 
withheld the allotment on February 18 after all 
708 successful applicants were found to be 
from 
Sohna, despite over 51,000 applications being 
received from various locations.
A departmental inquiry conducted by a 
committee revealed that only 2,200 applicants 
who had listed Sohna as their address were 
considered in the draw, while others were 
excluded 
due to the software error. Of these, 708 were 
declared successful. The glitch resulted in the 
exclusion of thousands of eligible applicants 
from other locations, violating the affordable 
housing policy, which does not allow 
preferential treatment based on residency, 
officials said.
A senior DTCP official confirmed that the faulty 
draw is likely to be cancelled, but the 
department is awaiting directions from the 
Punjab and Haryana High Court. “We have 
submitted a 
reply in the court, and since the matter is sub 
judice, it would not be appropriate to comment 
further. However, only 2,200 applicants were 
considered due to the glitch,” the official 
added.
One of the applicants affected by the issue 
approached the Punjab and Haryana High 
Court, seeking intervention. In its response to 
the court, DTCP acknowledged that the 
software 
malfunction may have deprived many eligible 
applicants of a fair chance at allotment. 
Officials noted that the affordable housing 
policy does not prioritise residents of a 
specific town 
and that the glitch led to an unfair process.
To prevent future occurrences, DTCP has 
initiated a technical audit of the software 
portal and has halted other upcoming draws 
until the system is rectified. “Two scheduled 
draws for 
affordable housing projects have been put on 
hold to ensure transparency in allotment,” 
another official added.
 
On February 18, director of Town and Country 
Planning, Amit Khatri, ordered a halt to the 
allotment process and initiated an inquiry into 
the e-draw system. The Chief Town Planner 
(IT&M) was tasked with submitting a report 
within 10 days. The affordable housing policy, 
launched by the Haryana government in 2016, 
allows private developers to construct and sell 
affordable housing units at government-fixed 
prices, currently ranging between ₹30 lakh and 
₹35 lakh.
In his order, Khatri noted that the e-draw for 
Licence No. 235 of 2023, Sector-36, Sohna, 
was conducted on January 27, 2025, for 
51,586 shortlisted applicants. However, the 
results 
showed that only applicants from Sohna town 
were selected, despite the policy not specifying 
any geographic preference.
As a precaution, DTCP has also directed the 
concerned developer to refrain from 
demanding further payments from the 
successful applicants until a final decision is 
made on the 
cancellation of the draw.

Source : Times of India