A group of 44 homebuyers from Gaursons Sportswood, a residential project in Sector 79, Noida, has filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court, demanding the registration of their flats that were handed over to them five years ago. The delay in registration, which has impacted many buyers, is not due to outstanding dues—common in similar housing projects—but stems from issues related to the Sports City project as a whole.
The Sportswood towers are part of Noida Authority’s ambitious Sports City project, which was launched in 2010. The project was designed to include 70% of the land for sports infrastructure, with the remaining land reserved for residential and commercial development. A consortium, led by Xanadu Estate Pvt Ltd, was tasked with developing the land across various sectors, including sectors 78, 79, and 101. However, a 2019 audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed significant irregularities in the development, particularly with the sports amenities that were supposed to occupy the majority of the land. The findings led to the suspension of approvals for revised maps, occupancy certificates, and registry applications for all Sports City projects in January 2021. As a result, despite having fulfilled all financial obligations, including stamp duty and farmer compensation, homebuyers in Sportswood have been unable to complete the registration process for their flats.
One of the petitioners, Sanwarjeet Dasoundi, emphasized that the project had received a temporary completion certificate in March 2019 after meeting the construction requirements. The flats were handed over to the buyers, and the developer even received a no dues certificate from the Noida Authority. However, the failure to secure a permanent completion certificate, mainly due to policy issues surrounding the broader Sports City project, has stalled the registration process. According to UP-RERA guidelines, a completion certificate is automatically considered approved if the authorities do not process it within seven days, yet the buyers’ registry process remains on hold. The petitioners have requested the court to nullify the condition that ties sublease registration to the permanent completion certificate, urging the court to allow the registrations based on the existing approvals.
The delay in registrations has caused significant hardships for the homebuyers, as they are unable to sell or transfer their properties due to the lack of formal ownership documentation. Additionally, concerns have grown that upcoming increases in circle rates—expected to rise by 30%—will further escalate registration costs. The Allahabad High Court bench, comprising Justices Manoj Kumar Gupta and Anish Kumar Gupta, has sought a response from the Noida Authority and scheduled the next hearing for January 10, 2025. The outcome of the case may set a significant precedent for other homebuyers in Sports City projects who are facing similar delays. The Sportswood project alone has over 800 homebuyers awaiting resolution.
