Housing authority bill to be tabled in monsoon session

Soon, disputes between flat owners and developers will see quick redressal with the state government all set to form a housing regulatory authority to deal with such issues.

Soon, disputes between flat owners and developers will see quick redressal with the state government all set to form a housing regulatory authority to deal with such issues.

HT Image

Breach in promises of built up areas, carpet areas, cheating in project completions are few of the issues that will be addressed by the authority.

To be tabled in the monsoon session, which will kick off at the end of July, the authority will act as a quasi-judicial body that will deal with protection of consumers. However, the authority will in no way be in a position to regulate the prices of properties.

“We are going to table the bill in the monsoon session. A retired judge will be appointed to head the authority. Developers faulting will have to cough up a fine and will attract a two-month imprisonment,” said Sachin Ahir, minister of state for housing, on Monday.

The bill will propose at bringing in an amendment to the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963, to form the authority.

Ahir said the authority would not only look at cases to do with private building, but also cover cases which will fall under the ambit of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

In the current system, the only way one addresses property disputes is by either lodging a case under the act with the police, which then goes over to the city civil court.

Alternatively the cases are fought out in the consumer courts. Considering the workload in the court, the cases do not see redressal for several years. “When the authority comes into place, if one is not happy with its order, then it can be challenged in the high court,” Ahir said.