The Rajasthan High Court has issued a stay on a government order to regularize 86 unauthorized colonies in the Sanganer area. A public interest litigation (PIL) argued that the regularization would unfairly benefit a few influential people who have encroached on land that was originally acquired by the Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB). The court has now ordered the state government to remove the encroachments and return the land to the RHB. The court's decision reinforces its strict stance against illegal construction and a disregard for urban planning.Read more

Homebuyers of the Expressway Towers project in Gurugram's Sector 109 have been protesting against developer Ocean Seven Buildtech Pvt Ltd due to significant delays in possession. Despite full payments made since 2016 under the Affordable Housing Scheme, construction remains incomplete. Buyers allege fund diversion by the developer and have filed complaints with authorities. The developer claims that possession will be delivered by March 2026.Read more

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu has emphasized accelerating welfare housing schemes to provide 10 lakh homes to underprivileged citizens by March 2026. The state has already allocated over INR 2,013 crore for these projects, with additional funds needed for infrastructure development in partially completed layouts. Authorities are instructed to identify land and beneficiaries quickly and categorize projects based on urgency and progress. A significant number of homes under central schemes like PMAY-Urban, PMAY-Gramin, and PM Janman have been completed, with more expected to be handed over shortly.Read more

The Goa government has introduced the Goa (Verification of Tenants) Rules, 2025, requiring property owners to submit detailed information about tenants to authorities. Non-compliance can attract fines of up to INR 10,000. The rules are open for public feedback before finalization. This initiative is part of the Goa (Verification of Tenants) Act, 2024, aimed at enhancing security in the state, which sees a significant number of domestic and international visitors. Police and local authorities are authorized to verify tenant information to maintain public safety and prevent misuse of rented properties.Read more

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is preparing to start operations early next month, marking the official replacement of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Bengaluru will be divided into five municipal corporations East, West, North, South, and Central with offices assigned from existing government properties. BBMP headquarters will become the Chief Minister's office as GBA Chairperson, and the Urban Development Minister will operate from the former Deputy Mayor's office. Revenue, liabilities, staff, and administrative zones are being redistributed across the new corporations, guided by draft orders and public feedback submitted recently, ensuring a smooth transition.Read more

The Ernakulam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed DLF to pay compensation to a buyer for a four-year delay in handing over an apartment in Kochi's Kakkanad area. The buyer, who had cleared almost the entire cost of the flat, was also forced to make additional payments, including charges for increased area. Construction issues and unauthorized deductions from their loan account further worsened the situation. The commission identified these as clear service lapses and unfair trade practices, instructing DLF to pay interest, refund rent spent during the delay, and provide compensation for mental distress and litigation costs.Read more

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) recently carried out demolition drives in Airoli and Koparkhairane against unauthorized constructions that continued despite prior notices. Acting under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, the Encroachment Department removed illegal structures, imposed fines, and deployed manpower and equipment for the operations. The drives were conducted under the supervision of senior officials, with support from the local police. Authorities indicated that such anti-encroachment actions will continue more strictly going forward.Read more

The Enforcement Directorate has initiated 22 PMLA investigations following the Supreme Court's directive to elevate CBI preliminary enquiries into formal probes, targeting a suspected scheme involving builders and banks that allegedly defrauded NCR homebuyers. Builders including Jaypee, Jaiprakash, Ajnara, Vatika, Supertech, and Idea Builders, as well as banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Indiabulls, and others, are under scrutiny. The probe focuses on fraud, corruption, and money laundering, aims to retrieve illicit assets, and seeks restitution for buyers burdened with EMIs despite not receiving possession all based on extensive CBI groundwork across numerous individuals and construction sites.Read more

NITI Aayog has proposed a single-window system for homestay registration and destination-focused financial incentives to strengthen India's homestay sector. Its report recommended simplifying registration requirements to only essential documents and establishing a central agency for coordination. It also called for collaborative marketing by states, destination-level promotion, and transparent regulations for safety and heritage protection. The report highlighted that the homestay market recorded INR 4,722 crore in 2024, with strong recovery after the pandemic. With experiential travel and domestic tourism gaining traction, homestays are positioned to play a larger role in India's tourism economy.Read more

The Supreme Court has upheld a Kerala High Court order suspending toll collection for four weeks on the 65-km Ernakulam-Mannuthy stretch of NH-544, setting an important precedent for road accountability. Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran ruled that citizens cannot be forced to pay tolls amid traffic jams, poor service roads, and potholes, stressing that user fees must guarantee safe, unhindered access. The Court noted, "The toll is really on the purse and patience of the citizen." Rejecting NHAI's appeal, the judgment underscores a citizen-centric approach, tying toll rights directly to the quality of road services provided.Read more