BHOPAL: A division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Tuesday, allowed a petition filed by the Association of Engineers, a body representing more than 4000 engineers of the state and declared rule 26 of Bhumi Vikas Rules 2012 as unconstitutional, directing equal treatment and equal powers to engineers at par with the architects.

The petition was filed challenging the constitutionality of Rule 26 of BVR 2012 through which the competence and power of the engineer in sanctioning the various infrastructural maps, plans and layouts of commercial colonies were taken away and reduced, as compared to that of architects.

The Bhumi Vikas Rules 2012, through its Rule 26 provided for issuance of licenses to architects and engineers, on the basis of which they have the authority to certify the maps, plans and layouts for various infrastructural projects in the state to be developed by private / government entities. In the said rule, whereon one hand, the architects were authorised to sanction all types of plans and maps for all types of buildings, the engineers were empowered for certifying only residential projects upto certain limit; whereon one hand architects were authorised for sanctioning plans and maps of larger colonies and commercial projects, the engineers were authorised only for smaller colonies and projects.