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The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) is facing criticism from citizen groups due to its slow handling of complaints. With over 6,000 complaints pending, citizens are demanding faster disposal of cases and the appointment of more adjudicating members to hear the pending cases at the earliest.
The Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association (MahaSeWA) made a representation to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last week, asking for action to be taken. Ramesh Prabhu, the chairman of MahaSeWA, stated that the chairman and another member dispose of 2,000 complaints every year on average. At this rate, it would take nearly three years to dispose of the pending complaints, and new complaints filed daily would increase the pendency further.
Prabhu also highlighted that the purpose of RERA is to give justice to homebuyers within 60 days of filing complaints, but presently it takes 18-24 months to receive an order. After the order, execution takes nearly one-and-a-half years, thus defeating the purpose of RERA.
The activists have also pointed out that since MahaRERA member BD Kapadnis retired in 2020, the post has been lying vacant. They have demanded additional hearing of cases in Pune and Nagpur and are hoping that more members would be appointed for speedy disposal of cases. A copy of the representation has also been sent to MahaRERA Chairman Ajoy Mehta.
Activist Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation recently protested the delay in hearing of cases at the Mumbai Suburban Collector's office along with about 100-odd homebuyers. Citizens have made several demands, including the seizure of properties of developers under recovery warrant orders. Advocate Manjunath, who represented several cases of homebuyers, told TOI that the issue of complaint disposal was tardy.
To address the issue, MahaRERA needs to take a proactive approach in the appointment of more adjudicating members to hear the pending cases. Citizen groups are urging the Maharashtra government to prioritize the appointment process to expedite the resolution of the complaints. The delays in resolving complaints not only affect homebuyers' trust in the real estate sector but also result in increased financial and emotional stress.
The Maharashtra government has a responsibility to ensure that the RERA regulatory framework functions effectively and efficiently, ensuring that the rights of the homebuyers are protected. The appointment of additional adjudicating members would improve the rate of disposal of complaints and reduce the burden on the current members.
It is essential to address the root cause of the issue rather than merely treating the symptoms. Addressing the backlog of complaints will require a sustained effort, and an effective solution will involve not only appointing more members but also streamlining the complaint resolution process. This includes developing a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure that all complaints are disposed of in a timely and fair manner. Only then can RERA fulfil its mandate of ensuring justice to homebuyers and restoring their faith in the real estate sector.
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