Section 157 in The Gujarat Municipalities Act, 1963
157. Completion certificates: permission to occupy or use.
(1)Every person erecting a building or executing a work as described in sub-section (1) of section 155 shall, within one month after the completions of the erection of such building or the execution of such work, delivery or send or cause to be delivered or sent to the Chief Officer at his office, notice in writing of such completion, and shall give to the Chief Officer all necessary facilities for the inspection of such building or of such work.(2)Where a building is to be erected or any work is to be executed in accordance with a plan certified under sub-section (1) of section 155 a notice under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by a completion certificate signed by a qualified person recognised by the municipality for the purpose.(3)(a)An inspection referred to in sub-section (1) shall be commenced within seven days from the date of receipt of the notice of completion; and(b)the Chief Officer may, not later than one month from the date of receipt of the notice of completion by written intimation addressed to the person from whom the notice of completion was received and delivered at his address as stated in such notice or in the absence of such address, affixed to a conspicuous part of the building to which such notice relates,(i)give permission for the occupation of such building or for the use of the building or part thereof affected by such work, or(ii)refuse such permission in case such building has been erected or such work executed so as to contravene any provision of this Act or of any by-law made under this Act at the time in force or of any order passed under section 155 intimating to the person who gave the notice under sub-section (1) of section 155 the reasons for such refusal and requiring such person, or if the person responsible for giving notice under sub-section (1) of section 155 is not at the time of such notice the owner of such building or work then such owner, to cause anything which is contrary to any provision of this Act or of any by-law made under this Act at the time in force or of any order passed under section 155 to be amended or to do anything which by any such provision or bye-law or order he is required to do but which has been omitted.(4)No person shall occupy or permit to be occupied any such building, or use or permit to be used the building or part thereof affected by such work, until(a)the permission referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (3) has been received, or(b)the Chief Officer has failed for one month after the receipt of the notice of completion to intimate as aforesaid his refusal of the said permission.(5)Whoever contravenes the provisions of this section or fails to comply with any order or requisition made thereunder shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, and in the case of a continuing contravention or non-compliance, with an additional fine which may extend to ten rupees for every day during which such contravention or non-compliance continues after the conviction for the first such contravention or non-compliance.
