The Allahabad High Court has ordered the demolition of two entire towers and the ninth and tenth floors of four other towers at Ghaziabad’s Gulmohar Greens Residential Society, directing the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) to complete the action within two months. The ruling has also brought renewed scrutiny of how flats were handed over to buyers without completion certificates and why the authority failed to prevent alleged violations.
A bench of Justices Saral Srivastava and Sudhanshu Chauhan issued the order on October 27, directing the demolition of Towers 27 and 28 and the ninth and tenth floors of Towers 16, 17, 18 and 19. The court also allowed GDA to recover the demolition costs from the promoter as arrears of land revenue and directed the district administration and police to provide assistance during the operation.
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The case concerns alleged illegal construction and changes to the approved building plans at Gulmohar Greens. The court set aside GDA’s approval that had allowed the disputed construction to be regularised, finding that the deviations could not legally be approved in that manner.
The court also ordered an FIR against the promoter over alleged fraud, misrepresentation and violations of the Uttar Pradesh Apartment Act. It directed a disciplinary inquiry against the former GDA vice-chairperson who approved the disputed regularisation order. The promoter was also ordered to pay Rs 25 lakh to the residents’ welfare association.
The ruling has put the spotlight on the role of the authority responsible for approving building plans and checking whether construction follows the approved layout.
GDA Identifies More Than 100 Builders Over Flats Handed Over Without CC
The problem is not limited to Gulmohar Greens only. GDA has identified over 100 builders who sold flats and shops without obtaining completion certificates (CCs) after the high court's scathing observation, and plans to file FIRs against the builders.
A completion certificate is issued after a building is checked against the approved plan and applicable requirements. It is an important clearance before a developer hands over possession to buyers.
The concern is that buyers may move into a property without knowing whether all required approvals have been obtained or whether the construction matches the sanctioned plan. The absence of a completion certificate does not automatically establish that a building is unsafe, but it can indicate that necessary checks or formalities remain pending.
2,968 Maps Approved, Only 292 Completion Certificates Issued
Figures reported on October 6 show the scale of the gap in Ghaziabad’s building approvals. By August 2026, GDA had approved 2,968 building maps but issued only 292 completion certificates.
The difference does not mean all projects without certificates are illegal or occupied without permission. Some may be awaiting no-objection certificates, payment of dues or other formalities. Developers have also argued that missing clearances can delay the issuance of completion certificates even when a project is otherwise ready.
Heritage Tower Case Adds To GDA’s Challenges
GDA has also registered an FIR against RKS Buildcon India, the developer of Heritage Tower in Noor Nagar, for allegedly handing over flats without a completion certificate.
The authority said the developer had failed to clear Rs 4.3 crore in compounding fees and labour cess, while inspections also found units being used for commercial purposes beyond the approved residential use.