MahaRERA’s advancement in executing recovery warrants has been sluggish, with only 31% of cases completed. In spite of the state government’s instruction to resolve these cases within three months, only Rs 233 crore has been recovered from the Rs 760 crore owed in 1,212 cases throughout Maharashtra, as reported by officials. “Although there has been some enhancement in execution rates, the extent of pending cases remains considerable.
It necessitates more proactive collaboration from revenue officials,” remarked a senior official from MahaRERA, noting that this situation persists despite the appointment of additional collectors in various districts to hasten the execution of recovery warrants. Adding to the delays are 172 complaints, amounting to Rs 157 crore, which are currently awaiting resolution at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the body responsible for insolvency and bankruptcy cases.
These cases are stuck in legal limbo, exacerbating the frustration of affected homebuyers, officials stated on Saturday. The slow progress stands in stark contrast to revenue minister Chandrakant Bawankule’s promise made during the state budget session, where he stressed the need for the swift execution of MahaRERA’s recovery warrant orders and the elimination of the backlog within three months.
The recovery warrants are issued under Section 40(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) against developers who fail to complete projects or refund homebuyers. Once issued by MahaRERA, these orders are sent to district collectors for enforcement, which includes property attachment and recovery of outstanding dues. The districts of Mumbai Suburban, Pune, and Thane continue to report the highest levels of backlog concerning these pending cases.
In a wider initiative aimed at enhancing accountability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the matter directly during the Pragati review meeting on May 29. Voicing his discontent with merely counting the “disposed” complaints, the Prime Minister questioned whether the states were truly ensuring redressal. In response, Maharashtra’s chief secretary, Sujata Saunik, convened a review meeting in the second week of June with collectorates throughout the state, instructing officials to expedite the execution of recovery warrants and guarantee accountability.
Subsequently, additional revenue officers have been appointed to aid in enforcement efforts. Senior citizen Arun Sheth, who has been awaiting action against a developer for over four years, remarked, “There has been no significant progress on my case despite numerous follow-ups. It has been nothing but silence.” Activists and consumer organizations have also advocated for improved monitoring mechanisms. “MahaRERA should implement a real-time dashboard similar to that of UP RERA.
There needs to be a clearly defined standard operating procedure and phased targets, rather than just ambiguous timelines,” stated activist R Prabhu. MahaRERA officials indicated that the matter is expected to be addressed in the forthcoming legislative session. “It is crucial that revenue officials are capable of providing a concrete and time-bound plan for the execution of these orders,” an official remarked.
