MahaRERA Recovery Warrants Execution Stalled: Rs 527 Crore Still Unclaimed

Pune: The progress of MahaRERA (Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority) on the execution of recovery warrants has been alarmingly slow, with only 31% of the cases being executed. Despite the state government's directive to dispose of these cases within three months, only Rs 233 crore has been recovered out of the Rs 760 crore due in 1,212 cases across Maharashtra, according to officials.

The slow progress contradicts the assurance given by Revenue Minister Chandrakant Bawankule during the state budget session, where he emphasized the need for speedy execution of MahaRERA's recovery warrant orders and clearing the backlog within three months.

The recovery warrants are issued under Section 40(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) against developers who fail to complete projects or refund homebuyers. Once issued by MahaRERA, these orders are forwarded to district collectors for action, including property attachment and recovery of dues. The districts of Mumbai Suburban, Pune, and Thane continue to report the highest backlog of such pending cases.

Though there has been some improvement in execution rates, the scale of pendency remains significant. It requires more proactive coordination from revenue officials, said a senior MahaRERA official, adding that this is despite the appointment of additional collectors in multiple districts to expedite the execution of recovery warrants.

Further compounding delays are 172 complaints, involving Rs 157 crore, that are currently pending before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which handles cases related to insolvency and bankruptcy. These cases are in legal limbo, adding to the frustration of affected homebuyers, stated officials.

In a broader push for accountability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue directly at the Pragati review meeting on May 29. Expressing dissatisfaction with the mere counting of 'disposed' complaints, the PM questioned whether states genuinely ensured redressal. In response, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik held a review meeting in the second week of June with collectorates across the state, directing officials to fast-track execution of recovery warrants and ensure accountability.

Additional revenue officers have since been appointed to assist with enforcement. Senior citizen Arun Sheth, who has been waiting for over four years for action against a developer, said, 'There's been no real movement on my case despite repeated follow-ups. It's just silence.'

Activists and consumer groups have also called for better monitoring tools. 'MahaRERA should introduce a real-time dashboard like UP RERA's. There should be a clearly defined SOP and phase-wise targets, not just vague timelines,' said activist R Prabhu.

MahaRERA officials said the issue was likely to be raised in the upcoming legislative session. 'It's important that revenue officials are able to give a concrete and time-bound plan for executing these orders,' an official noted.