Chennai News Desk

01 Apr 2026

The Madras High Court has issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government on a public interest litigation challenging a recent government order that allows urban planning authorities to approve housing layouts in hill regions without clearance from the Hill Area Conservation Authority (HACA). The petition, filed by an activist, argues that the order weakens long-standing environmental safeguards governing development across 597 notified hill villages. The court has directed the state to respond within four weeks. The case raises regulatory concerns over land-use approvals in ecologically fragile zones and highlights tensions between development permissions and environmental oversight frameworks in Tamil Nadu's hill areas.Read more

01 Apr 2026

Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) approved 1,060 housing projects around the festive period of Padwa, reflecting strong activity in the real estate sector. The approvals include 486 new project registrations, 426 extensions, and corrections in 148 projects. A significant number of applications were processed just before the festival, with the authority working continuously to meet demand. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune accounted for the majority of projects. The trend highlights the continued importance of festive periods like Padwa for project launches and homebuying decisions in Maharashtra.Read more

01 Apr 2026

A housing fraud case has been reported in Thane where 11 residents were cheated after being promised low-cost flats under a government housing scheme. The accused collected around INR 5,000 from each victim and later misused their personal documents to open bank accounts and carry out financial transactions. A case has been registered against three individuals for cheating and forgery. Police suspect a wider network and are checking if more people were targeted. The incident highlights rising misuse of trust in affordable housing schemes and the need for proper verification.Read more

01 Apr 2026

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Mumbai bench, ruled in favour of a taxpayer involved in a redevelopment project. The taxpayer surrendered tenancy rights and received a redeveloped flat valued at INR 11.7 crore. The Income Tax Department had considered this amount as taxable income from other sources and denied exemption under Section 54F. The tribunal observed that tenancy rights are a capital asset, and their exchange for the flat constituted a transfer of a capital asset, allowing the taxpayer to claim exemption. The decision provides clarity for similar redevelopment transactions.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

01 Apr 2026

The Bombay High Court has ruled that properties attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cannot be claimed by banks as secured assets, establishing that anti-money laundering provisions take precedence over recovery laws such as SARFAESI and the RDB Act. The decision arose from a dispute involving banks seeking to enforce security interests on properties already attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with alleged proceeds of crime. The court set aside an earlier tribunal order that had favoured the banks, holding that the state's right to confiscate tainted assets overrides creditor claims. The ruling clarifies the legal hierarchy governing such disputes and has implications for lenders dealing with stressed assets linked to criminal investigations.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

01 Apr 2026

Two directors of Mumbai-based Ajanta Airawat Infrastructure LLP have been arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for allegedly defrauding a non-resident Indian (NRI) investor of around INR 10.5 crore. The case relates to investments made over several years in a real estate project in Bhandup, Mumbai, where the complainant had initially invested INR 1.5 crore and later extended a loan of INR 6 crore. A subsequent settlement agreement promising repayment with interest or allocation of flats was not honoured. The accused have been remanded to judicial custody. The case highlights recurring risks in informal real estate financing arrangements and disputes linked to project-level obligations and investor protection.Read more

01 Apr 2026

MMRDA has achieved top rankings in Maharashtra's governance programs, highlighting its commitment to efficiency, transparency, and citizen-focused services. The authority was awarded first place in the 150 days Sevakarmi Plus Program and ranked fourth in the E-Governance Reform Program, with evaluations based on personnel development, service rule compliance, and innovative digital governance. The commendations were presented by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee. This recognition underscores the team's dedication, innovation, and leadership in shaping a more digitally connected and efficient Mumbai Metropolitan Region.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

01 Apr 2026

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a pilot to apply cool roof coating on selected municipal buildings in the G/South ward to reduce indoor heat as the city faces rising temperatures. The reflective Solar Reflective Paint contains additives like titanium dioxide that bounce sunlight off roofs, lowering heat absorption. The project targets buildings including schools and staff quarters, with initial results guiding potential citywide expansion. Similar technologies have been used in industrial structures and other Indian cities to effectively reduce rooftop temperatures.Read more

01 Apr 2026

The government has introduced a pilot to transfer compensation for highway land acquisition through Aadhaar linked biometric authentication, aiming to make payments direct, instant, and secure. This mechanism ensures landowners receive funds in their bank accounts after completing OTP and biometric verification, reducing chances of misdirection or delays. The pilot is underway in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. In the current financial year, approximately INR 19,800 crore has been disbursed for acquiring 10,100 hectares of land. Earlier, payments were via cheques but later shifted to direct bank transfers.Read more

01 Apr 2026

The Karnataka government has announced plans to promulgate an ordinance to introduce the Karnataka Apartment Ownership and Management Act, 2025 (KAOMA), aimed at strengthening the legal framework governing apartment ownership and management. The move, discussed in the state assembly, is positioned to address long-pending demands from apartment residents and housing associations while supporting a shift towards vertical urban development in Bengaluru. The proposed law is expected to improve transparency, accountability, and governance across apartment complexes, benefiting a large base of residents. The ordinance will be issued after consultations with legislators and stakeholders, and forms part of a broader policy response to land constraints, increasing apartment density, and evolving urban housing patterns in the state.Read more