Limit our responsibility to 7 days after granting OCs

Architects authorized to issue occupation certificates (OCs) for residential buildings under the self-certification scheme are calling for a defined seven-day timeframe for their responsibilities after certificate issuance. They propose that property owners should be held accountable for any changes or rule violations in buildings occurring beyond this seven-day period. These concerns were raised by members of the Architects Association of Gurgaon during a meeting with district town planner (DTCP) officials to address issues encountered by architects when issuing OCs within the self-certification scheme.

The association members have also urged the establishment of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to inspect the finalization of building work before OCs are granted. An architect expressed their perspective, stating, "We encounter various challenges while issuing OCs for residential properties. We have appealed to the DTP to set a maximum duration of seven working days for architects' responsibility following the issuance of OCs." They added that property owners often carry out additional construction post-OC issuance, and architects are unfairly held responsible for any violations. Therefore, the department should conduct inspections of the buildings within seven days of OC issuance.

In summary, architects in Gurgaon are seeking a time limit for their responsibility in OC issuance and the implementation of SOPs to ensure compliance with construction standards. These proposals aim to address challenges faced by architects in the self-certification scheme and promote accountability among property owners.

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