UBBL 2016 Chapter 1 (Clauses 1.5–1.8): Notes + 25 MCQs for DDA / ATP Exams

UBBL 2016 – Chapter 1 (Clauses 1.5 to 1.8): Notes + MCQ Quiz

Jump to: Model 1 – Short Notes Model 2 – MCQ Practice (25 Questions)

Model 1 – Short Notes (Chapter 1: 1.5 to 1.8)

1.5 Interpretation

1.5.1 Part Construction

• If a part of an approved/regularised building is demolished, added, altered or reconstructed, the bye-laws apply only to the new work involved (unless any specific clause says otherwise).
• Untouched portions of the building do not automatically need to be upgraded to new bye-laws.

1.5.2 Change of Use / Occupancy

• When the use of a building is changed (e.g. residential to office, shop to restaurant), the bye-laws apply to all parts of the building affected by that change.
• Such change of use requires prior permission from Delhi Fire Services because fire risk profile may change.

1.5.3 Existing Approved Building

• A lawfully approved and occupied building can generally continue its existing use/occupancy even if new bye-laws come later.
• Exception: if in the opinion of the Sanctioning Authority the building is unsafe or a hazard to adjacent property or its own occupants, it can demand removal/alteration of such use or building.

1.5.4 Doubts / Clarification

• Whenever any provision of the bye-laws needs further interpretation or clarification, the matter must be referred to the Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) constituted under clause 1.8.

1.5.5 Rules of Language

• Present tense includes future tense.
• Masculine gender includes feminine and neuter.
• Singular includes plural and plural includes singular.
• “Person” includes a corporation or body of individuals.
• “Writing” includes printing and typing.
• “Signature” includes thumb impression with name written near it.

1.6 Pre-Code Building Permit

• Applies to building permits issued before UBBL 2016 came into force.
• If a permit was issued earlier and construction is in progress but not completed within specified time:
  • That permission is deemed sanctioned under UBBL 2016.
  • It is only eligible for revalidation under UBBL 2016 (not old bye-laws).
• If validity has expired and construction has not commenced:
  • Further construction will be governed by the current UBBL 2016 only.

1.7 Development and Construction

1.7.0 Scope

• UBBL applies to:
  • Development and redevelopment
  • Erection and re-erection of buildings
  • Design and construction
  • Reconstruction, additions and alterations

1.7.1 Development Permission

• No person shall carry out development or redevelopment including sub-division on a plot/land that does not form part of any approved layout plan or scheme without:
  • Obtaining a layout plan approval from the Sanctioning Authority.

1.7.2 Building Permit

• No person shall erect, re-erect or make additions/alterations in any building without first obtaining a separate building permit for each building from the Sanctioning Authority.

1.7.3 Reconstruction

• Reconstruction of a building in whole or part is allowed when the building:
  • Has ceased to exist due to fire, natural collapse, or demolition as unsafe, or
  • Is likely to be demolished under an order of the Sanctioning Authority,
• Necessary certificate must be given by the Sanctioning Authority and the work must comply with UBBL.

1.8 Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC)

• Constituted in DDA and all concerned local bodies implementing building bye-laws.
• Headed by a senior officer of the Sanctioning Authority.

Functions

• Receives complaints, difficulties, appeals about building bye-laws.
• Provides appropriate redressal in a time-bound manner.
• Considers issues relating to sanction, completion and interpretation of bye-laws and codes.

Composition

• One officer of concerned local body (not below Director / Sr. Architect / Superintendent Engineer or equivalent).
• One senior officer of DDA (not below Director / Sr. Architect or equivalent).
• Three professionals – one each from:
  • Architecture
  • Engineering
  • Town Planning
  nominated by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
• Any other official/professional may be co-opted if required.

Tenure & Meetings

• Constituted by the Chief Executive / Head of the Sanctioning Authority.
• Term is 3 years; committee is then reconstituted (members may continue).
• Meets at least once a month.

Decisions & Procedure

• Decisions of the GRC are final and binding in matters related to interpretation of the building bye-laws.
• All decisions:
  • Recorded as minutes, and
  • Placed on the website of the Sanctioning Authority.
• Grievances/appeals:
  • Submitted as an application.
  • Fees, if any, decided by the Sanctioning Authority.

Model 2 – MCQ Practice (25 Questions)

Attempt all questions and then click “Check Answers” at the end. The quiz will show your score and highlight correct (green) and wrong (red) options.

1. Q1. Under clause 1.5.1 Part Construction, when part of an approved/regularised building is demolished/added/altered or reconstructed, the Building Bye-Laws apply:

   (A) To the entire existing building, whether altered or not (B) Only to the extent of the new work involved (C) Only to structural elements, not services (D) Only if the building is in a hazardous zone

2. Q2. Under 1.5.2 Change of use / Occupancy, prior permission must be obtained from which authority when the use of a building is changed?

   (A) Delhi Urban Art Commission (B) Delhi Jal Board (C) Delhi Fire Services (D) Archaeological Survey of India

3. Q3. As per 1.5.2, when the use of a building is changed, the Building Bye-Laws shall apply:

   (A) Only to newly constructed portions (B) Only to common areas (C) Only to structural members (D) To all parts of the building affected by the change

4. Q4. According to 1.5.3 Existing approved building, the lawfully established use/occupancy of an existing approved building can be required to be removed/altered when:

   (A) The building is older than 30 years (B) A new Master Plan is notified (C) A new FAR norm is introduced (D) In the opinion of the Sanctioning Authority, the building is unsafe or a hazard to adjacent property or its own occupants

5. Q5. In case any provision of the Building Bye-Laws requires further interpretation/clarification, the matter shall be referred to:

   (A) Delhi Urban Art Commission (B) Delhi Fire Services (C) Central Government (D) Grievance Redressal Committee constituted under clause 1.8

6. Q6. Which of the following statements is NOT correct as per 1.5.5?

   (A) Present tense includes the past tense (B) Masculine gender includes feminine and neuter (C) Singular includes plural and plural includes singular (D) “Person” can include a corporation and “writing” includes printing and typing

7. Q7. “Pre-Code Building Permit” is defined as:

   (A) Validity of building permit granted before the enforcement of these building bye-laws (B) Building permit issued for heritage buildings only (C) Any permit issued after amendments of 2020 (D) Temporary permission for construction in rural areas

8. Q8. Read the statements on 1.6 Pre-Code Building Permit:

   1. If a permit was issued before the commencement of UBBL and construction is in progress but not completed in time, that permission is deemed sanctioned under UBBL.
   2. Such permission is only eligible for revalidation under UBBL.
   3. If validity has expired and construction has not commenced, construction will still be governed by the old bye-laws.

   Choose the correct option:

   (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) 1 and 2 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

9. Q9. Where the validity of sanction has expired and construction has not commenced, construction shall be governed by:

   (A) The bye-laws in force at the time of original sanction (B) The provisions of the current Building Bye-Laws (UBBL 2016) (C) Only by the Master Plan (D) Only by directions of Grievance Redressal Committee

10. Q10. Under 1.7.0 Development and Construction, these Bye-Laws apply to which of the following?

    1. Development and redevelopment
    2. Erection and/or re-erection of a building
    3. Design, construction, reconstruction, additions and alterations

    (A) 1, 2 and 3 (All of the above) (B) 1 and 2 only (C) 2 and 3 only (D) 1 and 3 only

11. Q11. As per 1.7.1 Development permission, no person shall carry out development/redevelopment including sub-division on any plot or land without layout approval when the land:

    (A) Forms part of any approved layout plan (B) Is within Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (C) Is outside Delhi (D) Does not form part of any approved layout plan or scheme

12. Q12. Which of the following is NOT correct about development permission (1.7.1)?

    (A) It is required for development on land not forming part of an approved layout plan. (B) It is granted by the Sanctioning Authority for the layout plan. (C) Sub-division of plots is also covered. (D) It is not required for redevelopment on land not forming part of any approved layout plan.

13. Q13. Under 1.7.2, no person shall erect, re-erect or make additions/alterations in any building without:

    (A) Zonal Plan approval (B) A separate building permit for each such building from the Sanctioning Authority (C) Approval from Delhi Urban Art Commission (D) No-objection from neighbours

14. Q14. Which of the following must obtain a separate building permit under 1.7.2?

    (A) Only group housing projects (B) Only institutional buildings (C) Each individual building, for erection / re-erection / addition / alteration (D) Only high-rise buildings above 15 m

15. Q15. According to 1.7.3 Reconstruction, reconstruction in whole or part is allowed when a building:

    (A) Has minor internal changes only (B) Has unauthorised constructions already regularised (C) Has ceased to exist due to fire, natural collapse or demolition as unsafe, or is likely to be demolished under an order of the Sanctioning Authority, and necessary certificate is given (D) Is more than 50 years old

16. Q16. As per the definition in 1.4.56, the Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) is primarily meant for:

    (A) Sanctioning new building plans (B) Conducting technical structural audits (C) Addressing complaints/difficulties/appeals and providing appropriate redressal in a time-bound manner (D) Revising the Master Plan of Delhi

17. Q17. Which of the following is NOT a mandatory member of the GRC as per 1.8?

    (A) An officer of the concerned local body not below Director/Sr. Architect/Superintendent Engineer or equivalent (B) A senior officer of DDA not below Director/Sr. Architect or equivalent (C) Three representatives from profession – one each from architecture, engineering, town planning (D) A representative of Delhi Fire Services

18. Q18. Who heads the Grievance Redressal Committee for building bye-laws?

    (A) Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (B) A senior officer of the Sanctioning Authority (C) Chief Fire Officer, DFS (D) Member (Engineering), DDA

19. Q19. The term of the GRC constituted under 1.8 is:

    (A) 1 year (B) 2 years (C) 3 years (D) 5 years

20. Q20. How frequently must the GRC meet, at minimum, according to 1.8?

    (A) Once in six months (B) Once in three months (C) Once in fifteen days (D) At least once a month

21. Q21. Consider these statements about decisions of the GRC:

    1. They are final and binding in all matters related to interpretation of the building bye-laws.
    2. All decisions must be recorded in minutes and placed on the website of the Sanctioning Authority.

    Choose the correct option:

    (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) 1 and 2 both (D) Neither 1 nor 2

22. Q22. As per 1.8, grievances/appeals before the GRC:

    (A) Must be made orally in person (B) Must be made only through telephone helpline (C) Must be submitted only via email (D) Shall be in the form of an application; any fees, if applicable, shall be decided by the Sanctioning Authority

23. Q23. Assertion (A) and Reason (R):

    Assertion (A): When any provision of the building bye-laws requires further interpretation, the matter shall be referred to the GRC.
    Reason (R): The GRC considers grievances/appeals/queries regarding sanction, completion and interpretation of bye-laws and codes.

    (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A (B) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A (C) A is true, R is false (D) A is false, R is true

24. Q24. An existing approved building, lawfully occupied, is found to be structurally sound and safe by the Sanctioning Authority. New UBBL provisions are notified. Which is the most correct statement?

    (A) The building must be demolished and rebuilt as per new UBBL. (B) The building’s use must be discontinued immediately. (C) The building can continue its lawfully established use; no removal/alteration is required solely due to new bye-laws. (D) Occupancy is allowed only for 5 more years.

25. Q25. Which of the following statements about Chapter 1 clauses 1.5–1.8 is NOT correct?

    (A) Interpretation doubts are referred to the Grievance Redressal Committee. (B) Pre-Code building permits with ongoing construction are deemed sanctioned under UBBL and only eligible for revalidation. (C) Development permission is compulsory for any sub-division on land not forming part of an approved layout plan. (D) Building permits are not required for additions/alterations to existing buildings.

Show Answer Key (Q1–Q25)

Q1–B Q2–C Q3–D Q4–D Q5–D Q6–A Q7–A Q8–C Q9–B Q10–A Q11–D Q12–D Q13–B Q14–C Q15–C Q16–C Q17–D Q18–B Q19–C Q20–D Q21–C Q22–D Q23–B Q24–C Q25–D