Bengaluru Urban police have issued a legal notice to a private builder following a criminal complaint accusing them of encroaching on Hennagara Lake in Jigani. CEO of Jigani city municipal council, Rajesh, lodged the complaint, citing violations of the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Act-2007 and IPC sections 447 and 427. An FIR has been registered. The police directed the builder's representatives to appear before them, emphasizing the need for land records and measurements. The alleged encroachment involved dumping soil and materials on the lake bed without permission. Investigations are set to accelerate pending document submission.Read more

In response to a petition from CNC Mangalore-Kavoor Project Pvt Ltd, Karnataka High Court has affirmed that authorities must acquire land owned by private individuals through Section 69 of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act, 1961. The ruling underscores the legal obligation for proper acquisition procedures, restricting the use of private land for public projects. The decision establishes a precedent for adherence to the statutory framework in land acquisition, emphasizing the importance of due process and regulatory compliance in such matters.Read more

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has granted approval for IIFL Finance's claim against Satra Properties as financial debt, following an insolvency resolution dispute. IIFL Finance's claim, surpassing Rs 185 crore, includes principal amounts and interest. The loan was secured through various means, including mortgages and pledges, and later Satra Properties' defaulted on these loans. Despite a consent agreement in 2019, the resolution professional rejected IIFL's claim during insolvency proceedings. NCLT's recent decision emphasizes that Satra Property Developers had agreed to mortgage its property, prioritizing proceeds for repaying IIFL Finance, reinforcing the financial nature of the claim by IIFL Finance.Read more

The government's initiative to expedite housing society redevelopment in Mumbai and Pune by offering quick deemed conveyance for those opting for self-redevelopment faced low interest, with none of the 716 applications filed between May and October choosing this route. Deemed conveyance, a legal document facilitating land ownership transfer to cooperative housing societies, was part of a policy introduced on May 31 to streamline the process. Challenges cited include limited availability of loans for self-redevelopment, with only one bank currently offering such loans, and reluctance among elderly or retired residents in buildings to undertake the complexities of the self-redevelopment approach.Read more

MHADA lottery flat winners, receiving possession of 4,082 flats, are struggling to complete formalities due to an alleged gap in communication concerning stamp duty, registration and metro tax payments. This has resulted in long qeues at the MHADA office. Some winners also claim to lack essential details required for the eSBTR form, preventing them from completing the online process independently. MHADA officials have informed winners that they can find the requisite information on the ‘Quick Links’ section of the MHADA website or in the draft allotment letter provided to them. They have acknowledged the problem being faced and have promised to address the communication gaps that are crucial for improving the overall experience for lottery winners.Read more

The BBMP plans to digitize 5,100 handwritten property registers by March 2024, seeking proposals for scanning and digitization. Handwritten records are often prone to wear and illegibility. Their transition to digital format will enhance readability and longevity. The BBMP aims to complete this undertaking by March 2024, with BBMP Revenue Department officials ensuring accuracy. Outsourcing, instead of using internal teams, is now the chosen approach. The initiative, part of the Nanna Swathu program, involves door-to-door visits to digitize property records, aiming to uncover tax evasion and building violations, potentially boosting BBMP revenue. Digitizing land records curtails corruption and ensures accountability.Read more

Citizens, represented by the Maharashtra Society Welfare Association (MSWA), are urging the state housing minister, Atul Save, to establish a robust monitoring system for redevelopment projects. Residents in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Thane have expressed concerns about the lack of a monitoring mechanism for redevelopment timelines, leading to delays and legal disputes. MSWA has submitted a proposal for a regulatory authority dedicated to overseeing the redevelopment of housing societies, covering private and government structures. They hope the state government addresses this issue in the upcoming housing policy, as existing regulations like RERA do not adequately cover redevelopment projects.Read more

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) conducted an anti-encroachment operation, demolishing 15 unauthorized structures covering 1.5 lakh sq ft along DP Road between Rajaram and Mhatre bridges. In line with National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives, PMC issued notices to establishments, including marriage halls and food joints. Approximately 6,000 cubic feet of sand removed during the operation will be used for riverbank reclamation. Responding to an NGT case, PMC filed an affidavit in October, denying permission for structures within the river's blue line. The demolition is part of PMC's commitment to environmental preservation and compliance with legal directives.Read more

In a bid to safeguard consumer interests and enforce strict compliance with the RERA Act, the Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP-RERA) has issued comprehensive directives concerning real estate project bank accounts. The guidelines explicitly prohibit promoters from creating liens on project-specific accounts and extracting interest, penalties, or assured returns from these accounts. Promoters must maintain a collection account for allottee payments, ensuring transparency. The regulations also mandate the disclosure of three bank accounts during the project's registration application, and strict control mechanisms aim to ensure timely project completion and enhance transparency in project fund management.Read more

The Maharashtra settlement commissioner's office has successfully concluded an extensive drone survey covering 12,084 villages. As part of this initiative, details of residential land parcels, totalling 18.66 lakh property cards, have been uploaded on the revenue department's official website. This drone survey, initiated three years ago, has covered nearly 37,000 villages, with plans to complete the remaining 50 lakh property cards for the remaining villages by 2025. The integration of drone technology has revolutionized the surveying process, enabling precise demarcation of boundaries for various properties, including rural, private, government, and semi-government lands, and mapping of roads and canals.Read more