The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) on Wednesday asked a builder in Mumbai to return an advance amount of Rs 26.15 lakh to a consumer -the first such order since the real estate law came into effect in the state on May 1.

The deadline for registering all ongoing projects in the state with MahaRERA ended on July 31. Since then, the authority has registered over 13,000 projects -the highest in the country.
The authority has so far received more than 98 complaints. On Wednesday, it issued its first order in a case registered by the consumer from Khar against the developer for the project in Virar (West).

MahaRera authorities said the complainant had booked the flat in 2012-13 and was assured by the developer that the project would be completed in 2016.
The case was filed as the complainant wanted to cancel the project and the builder to reimburse the signing amount as the building was not completed, the authorities added. The complainant approached RERA authorities and the order was issued in his favour, an official said.

The complainant said that he was happy with the RERA authorities for resolving the case fast. “We are extremely happy that MahaRERA ruled in our favour and the developer immediately issued the cheque following the order,“ said the complainant, who was present at the MahaRERA office with his spouse. The consultant had filed the complaint on the MahaRERA website by paying Rs 5,000.
RERA authorities said the builder agreed to pay the money to the complainant after three hearings by the MahaRERA authorities. “Consent terms were filed by both the parties and the developer agreed to return the amount. accordingly, he got the cheque. The complaint was heard before adjudicating officer B D Kapadanis.
He added that this was first decision taken after MahaRERA was constituted and the maiden order was a proconsumer one. The order issued by MahaRERA stated that the parties have amicably settled the dispute and filed their consent terms.
Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP) chairperson Shirish Deshpande said they were expecting more consumers to register their grievances against developers registered with MahaRERA.“We have to wait and watch,“ he added.
Credai-Maharashta president Shantilal Kataria said the builders’ response to get registered with MahaRERA was encouraging. “At least 17 lakh residential units, over 1 lakh commercial units and above 2 lakh plots have been registered with MahaRERA.This is among the highest in India. We expect more developers to register soon,“ he said.