The Maharashtra Government, established the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the interests of both developers and allottees in real estate projects. In line with its responsibilities, MahaRERA handles complaints related to issues such as non-possession by developers, demands for higher payments than agreed upon, and commercial activities deviating from the approved project plans.
The Authority has been vested with the powers of a civil court under the Act. It has the authority to impose interest, penalties, or award compensation for damages against the violator, whether it is the developer or the allottee. Upon receiving complaints, MahaRERA conducts hearings and passes orders accordingly. However, challenges have arisen when parties fail to comply with these orders, leading to delays in recovery of dues.
To address this, MahaRERA has taken a proactive step by proposing the appointment of dedicated Revenue Recovery Officers under the District Collectors’ supervision, invoking the provisions of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. A large backlog of recovery cases, particularly in Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban (noted as “Mumbai Uingar” in the order), Thane, Raigad, Jalghar (likely intended as Palghar), and Jhunjhunu (possible typographical error, as Jhunjhunu is in Rajasthan), necessitated urgent action.
New Government Order for Appointment of Revenue Recovery Officers
The Central Government, by its order dated January 1, 2024, has officially assigned additional recovery responsibilities to the Revenue Recovery Officers attached to the Additional District Magistrates (ADMs) and Deputy District Magistrates (DDMs) of the concerned districts.
Under the newly issued order:
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The District Magistrates/Collectors of Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Raigad, and Palghar will act as Coordinating Officers for the recovery process.
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The Additional District Magistrates and Deputy District Magistrates have been designated as Dedicated Revenue Recovery Officers under their supervision.
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Their primary responsibility will be to recover the outstanding amounts from violators against whom MahaRERA has issued orders.
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Reports and updates regarding the recovery actions must be submitted regularly to both the State Government and the MahaRERA Secretary.
| Sl. No. | District | District Controlling Officer | Dedicated Revenue Recovery Officers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mumbai City | District Magistrate, Mumbai City | Resident District Magistrate and Additional District Magistrate, Mumbai City |
| 2 | Mumbai Suburban (Uingar) | District Magistrate, Mumbai Suburban | Additional District Magistrate, Mumbai Suburban |
| 3 | Thane | District Magistrate, Thane | Additional District Magistrate, Thane and Resident District Magistrate, Thane |
| 4 | Jhunjhunu (possible error) | District Magistrate, Juh | Additional District Magistrate, Juh |
| 5 | Palghar (noted as Jalghar) | District Magistrate, Palghar | Additional District Magistrate, Palghar |
| 6 | Raigad | Collector, Raigad | Deputy Collector and Additional District Magistrate, Raigad |
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The District Collectors will distribute recovery work among the appointed officers.
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The process will strictly follow the enforcement procedures under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966.
- This initiative is expected to fast-track recovery of penalties, ensuring stricter compliance with MahaRERA orders and enhancing accountability within the real estate sector.
By tightening recovery mechanisms, MahaRERA reinforces its commitment to protect the rights of real estate consumers while ensuring developers comply with legal obligations swiftly.
