Construction Firm Directed to Register Project and Obtain Completion Certificate within Three Months
Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has taken strict action against a construction firm in Pune’s Rasta Peth, imposing a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for failing to comply with the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016 (RERA Act). The firm, Shribhavani Associates, has been instructed to register their project and obtain a completion certificate within a specified timeframe.
The order, delivered by MahaRERA member Mahesh Pathak, comes in response to an online complaint filed by a society member, Rahul Gole, against the firm’s partners last year. Gole, represented by advocate Sudip Kenjalkar, sought MahaRERA’s intervention to ensure the project’s compliance with RERA regulations.
Under section 3 of the RERA Act, promoters are obligated to register real estate projects before advertising or selling any units. Despite this legal requirement, the firm proceeded with sales without registering their project, prompting the regulatory authority’s intervention.
The complaint highlighted various discrepancies, including the absence of a completion certificate from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), despite the project’s building plan approval in 2019. Additionally, the firm failed to fulfill pending construction tasks and execute necessary documents, leaving buyers in limbo.
During hearings, the respondent failed to provide essential documentation or attend proceedings despite repeated notices, indicating non-compliance and disregard for regulatory directives. Advocate Kenjalkar emphasized the urgency of addressing pending obligations to ensure buyer protection and transparency in real estate transactions.
MahaRERA member Pathak noted the severity of the violations, including the sale of flats without project registration, and imposed a penalty under section 59 of the RERA Act. Furthermore, the firm was directed to register the project within 30 days, obtain a commencement certificate, and fulfill pending obligations within three months.
This decision underscores MahaRERA’s commitment to enforcing RERA regulations and safeguarding buyer interests in the real estate sector.
