The Bombay High Court has mandated municipal corporations, councils, and urban local bodies in Maharashtra to integrate their websites with the MahaRERA portal within three months. This integration aims to enable real-time verification of commencement and occupation certificates, addressing concerns over forged documents and unauthorised constructions. The directive stems from a PIL highlighting non-compliance in Kalyan and Ambernath. Pending integration, authorities must upload these certificates within 48 hours of issuance. This move aligns with the RERA Act's provisions, ensuring transparency and protecting homebuyers by curbing fraud. The state government must ensure complete compliance to foster a secure real estate ecosystem.
The Bombay High Court has mandated that all municipal corporations, councils, and urban local bodies integrate their websites with the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) portal within three months. This directive seeks to facilitate real-time verification of commencement certificates (CCs) and occupation certificates (OCs), thereby safeguarding homebuyers' interests and curbing fraudulent practices.
The court's order came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by architect Sandeep Patil, who highlighted the prevalence of unauthorised constructions in 27 villages across Kalyan and Ambernath talukas. Patil alleged that developers were circumventing compliance by submitting forged documents. The court emphasised that until full integration is achieved, local authorities must upload CCs and OCs on their websites within 48 hours of issuance to maintain interim transparency and public access.
This directive aligns with Section 4(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, which mandates developers to submit authenticated copies of CCs during project registration. The court underscored the necessity for MahaRERA to insist on verifiable, legally authenticated documents to prevent illegal registrations. Advancements in digital governance were noted, suggesting that MahaRERA could enhance coordination with local municipal councils, municipal corporations, and planning authorities by creating direct access to their databases for immediate document verification.
In response to the court's directives, the state government referred to a Government Resolution (GR) issued on February 23, 2023, mandating municipalities and urban local bodies to integrate their websites with MahaRERA's portal to create a unified platform for verifying CCs and OCs. The court instructed the state to ensure rigorous compliance with this GR. The state's submission revealed that while 454 local bodies had begun displaying CCs and OCs on their systems, 26 planning authorities were yet to comply. The court directed the completion of integration within three months and stipulated that, effective June 19, 2023, MahaRERA would verify the authenticity of all CCs submitted before granting project registrations.
This initiative is expected to curb unauthorised constructions and protect consumers by establishing a centralised system for document verification. By integrating local authority websites with the MahaRERA portal, the state aims to enhance transparency, prevent forgery, and uphold the objectives of the RERA Act, thereby fostering a more secure and trustworthy real estate environment for homebuyers.
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