RTI for HSVP and Housing Board Haryana — Plot Allotment, Possession and Refund

Using RTI with HSVP and Housing Board Haryana

Haryana's planned urban expansion has been managed by two principal public housing bodies: Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and Housing Board Haryana (HBH). Thousands of citizens have invested their savings in plots and apartments under various schemes floated by these authorities over several decades. While the promise of a planned home in a developed sector draws applicants in large numbers, the reality often involves delays in possession, unresolved account disputes, missing No Dues Certificates, and stalled refunds. The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives every citizen a powerful legal tool to extract recorded information from these state public authorities and hold them accountable.

HSVP: Haryana's Urban Land Developer

HSVP, formerly known as HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority), develops urban sectors across all major and smaller towns of Haryana. Its footprint covers Gurugram, Faridabad, Panchkula, Ambala, Hisar, Karnal, Rohtak, Panipat, Sonipat, Rewari, Yamuna Nagar, and dozens of other towns. HSVP acquires raw land, lays out sector grids with internal roads, parks, community centres, and utility corridors, and then allots residential plots ranging from 4 marla (approximately 90 square yards) to 14 marla and larger sizes. Commercial sites, institutional plots, and industrial sectors are also part of the HSVP portfolio.

The allotment process typically involves floating a scheme, inviting applications along with an earnest money deposit, conducting a computerised draw of lots for oversubscribed categories, and issuing allotment letters to successful applicants. Final possession is granted after payment of the balance amount including enhancement charges, external development charges (EDC), and infrastructure development charges (IDC). This multi-step process, which can span years from application to possession, is fertile ground for delays and disputes at every stage.

Housing Board Haryana: Flats for All Income Groups

Housing Board Haryana, headquartered at SCO 125-127, Sector 2, Panchkula, constructs and sells residential apartments. Its schemes are categorised by income group: EWS (Economically Weaker Section), LIG (Low Income Group), MIG (Middle Income Group), and HIG (Higher Income Group). HBH has built apartment complexes in various districts and offers affordable housing options to those who cannot acquire a plot. Like HSVP, HBH schemes are oversubscribed in popular locations, and delays in construction completion and possession handover are recurring issues.

Deen Dayal Jan Awas Yojana (DDJAY)

For citizens seeking affordable plotted housing in smaller Haryana towns, the Deen Dayal Jan Awas Yojana encourages private developers to build plotted colonies on compact land parcels. These are licensed by the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), not HSVP directly, and RTI relating to DDJAY approvals and licence conditions must be directed to DTCP, Haryana.

Common Problems Where RTI Helps

Several recurring problems drive citizens to file RTI applications with HSVP and HBH:

Possession Delay: Sectors are often developed piecemeal. Roads, sewerage, water supply, and electricity connections may not be complete when possession is ostensibly offered. RTI can establish the development completion status and the authority's internal inspection reports.

Property ID Not Generated: Haryana has implemented a statewide property digitisation programme requiring all properties to have a Property ID for property tax and official purposes. After possession, many HSVP allottees find that the Property ID has not been generated, blocking them from paying property tax and completing registration formalities. RTI can expose the reason for the delay and identify the responsible officer.

NDC (No Dues Certificate) Withheld: An NDC from HSVP or HBH is essential for selling or mortgaging a property. Applicants report that NDCs are arbitrarily withheld or that disputed dues appear on accounts despite payments being made. RTI on the account statement and the NDC application processing record helps citizens establish their payment trail.

Refund After Cancellation: When allotments are cancelled — either by the authority for non-payment or surrendered voluntarily — refunds of earnest money and balance amounts are frequently delayed by months or years. An RTI on the refund processing status forces the authority to explain the delay in writing.

Draw Integrity: Citizens who believe the allotment draw was not conducted fairly may file RTI to obtain the draw methodology, the list of allottees, and the criteria used for priority categories such as freedom fighters, defence personnel, and persons with disabilities.

Layout and Development Plan: Residents of developed sectors often find that parks have been encroached upon, community sites sold commercially, or roads not built as per the approved layout. RTI on the original approved sector layout plan and any amendments to it is a necessary first step for any legal challenge.

What RTI Can Obtain

Under Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005, you can request:

• The allotment letter or draw result for your application number under a named scheme
• Your position on the waiting list and the total number of applicants ahead of you
• A complete account statement showing all dues, payments, interest, enhancement charges, and balance
• A copy of the possession order and the date by which possession was required to be given
• The status of your NDC application and reasons for any delay
• The Property ID generated for your plot and the date of generation
• The approved layout plan and sector development plan for your sector
• Internal inspection reports on the development completion status of your sector
• Correspondence between HSVP/HBH and government departments regarding your scheme
• The formula used to calculate enhancement charges and EDC/IDC

How to File RTI Against HSVP or Housing Board Haryana

Online: Visit rtionline.haryana.gov.in, register, and submit your application, selecting the relevant public authority (HSVP or Housing Board Haryana). Pay the ₹10 fee online. BPL cardholders must upload their BPL card and are exempt from the fee.

By Post or In Person: Address your application to the CPIO at the HSVP Estate Office in the city where your plot is located, or to the CPIO at Housing Board Haryana, SCO 125-127, Sector 2, Panchkula – 134 109. Enclose a ₹10 Indian Postal Order, demand draft, or court fee stamp.

Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, the CPIO must respond within 30 days of receiving your application. If the information sought concerns the life or liberty of any person, the response must be provided within 48 hours under the Section 7(1) proviso.

Appeals

If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days, provides incomplete information, or rejects your request, you may file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The First Appellate Authority is typically the senior officer above the CPIO at the concerned HSVP Estate Office or at HBH headquarters.

If you remain unsatisfied after the First Appeal, you may file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) with the Haryana State Information Commission (HSIC). HSVP and HBH are state public authorities under Haryana law — the Second Appeal does NOT go to the Central Information Commission (CIC). The HSIC has the power to direct disclosure of information, impose penalties under Section 20 of the RTI Act on the CPIO for unjustified delay or refusal (up to ₹250 per day of delay, subject to a maximum of ₹25,000), and recommend disciplinary action.

Practical Tips

1. Quote your allotment letter number and application number in every RTI application — this makes it impossible for the authority to claim the records are not traceable.
2. Ask for a certified copy of the account statement, not just summary figures, so you have an official document for any legal proceedings.
3. Specify the city and sector in your RTI — HSVP has Estate Offices in multiple cities, and the CPIO changes by location.
4. Request inspection reports separately if your sector has visible development gaps — HSVP engineers file internal inspection reports that are rarely shared voluntarily.
5. Keep your payment receipts: attach copies when filing RTI about NDC or refund status to enable the CPIO to cross-check records quickly and avoid technical deferrals.
6. Track HRERA registration: if your scheme is registered with HRERA, you have a parallel remedy for possession delay — obtain the HRERA registration number via RTI from HSVP or HBH.
7. File with the right office: for plots in Gurugram, approach the HSVP Estate Office, Gurugram; for Faridabad, the Faridabad Estate Office; for Panchkula, the Panchkula Estate Office. Filing with the wrong office causes delays and transfers.
8. Use the HSIC if appeals stall: the Haryana State Information Commission regularly awards penalties and directs disclosure in matters involving HSVP and HBH — do not hesitate to escalate if the First Appeal does not yield results within the statutory 45-day window.