The Bombay High Court has directed all municipal corporations, councils, and urban local bodies to integrate their websites with the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) portal within three months. This directive, issued while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by architect Sandeep Patil, aims to safeguard homebuyers from fraudulent practices and unauthorised constructions.
“This integration would enable RERA to conduct real-time verification of commencement and occupation certificates, thereby preventing forgery and protecting consumers’ interests in line with the RERA Act’s objectives,” said Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. They directed that “until full integration is achieved”, authorities must ensure that CCs and OCs are uploaded on their websites within 48 hours of issuance “to maintain interim transparency and public access”.
The court emphasised the importance of verifying legal documents such as Completion Certificates (CC) and Occupancy Certificates (OC) submitted during project registrations. Referring to widespread illegal constructions in Kalyan and Ambernath talukas, Patil highlighted how developers bypass compliance by forging documents. The PIL called for a rational policy framework to eliminate such practices and ensure authenticity in project registrations. As per Section 4(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, developers must submit an authenticated copy of the CC while applying for registration. The court stressed the need for MahaRERA to strengthen its verification process, leveraging digital advancements to coordinate with local authorities for real-time document validation.
The state government informed the court about a February 2023 Government Resolution (GR) mandating the integration of municipal websites with MahaRERA’s platform. While 454 urban local bodies have complied, 26 planning authorities are yet to complete the process. The judges directed strict adherence to the GR and set a three-month deadline for full compliance. They also instructed MahaRERA to verify the authenticity of all submitted CCs before granting project registrations, effective from June 2023. This verdict underlines the urgent need for systemic reforms to curb fraudulent practices in real estate. By ensuring seamless coordination between urban bodies and MahaRERA, the move is expected to foster accountability and protect consumer interests in the housing sector.
