In a landmark move to bolster regulatory authority and expedite implementation of its orders, the Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TGRERA) has announced the formation of a dedicated enforcement wing. This strategic decision aims to address widespread delays in enforcement, especially in cases involving non-compliant builders and developers.
New Enforcement Wing with Executive Director
To lead this effort, TGRERA will appoint an executive director, likely drawn from the state revenue department, who will head the enforcement wing. The new unit will be exclusively responsible for executing the authority’s orders, including recovery of dues, penalties, and possession handovers. The move aligns Telangana with other proactive states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu that have already established similar mechanisms.
TGRERA chairman N. Satyanarayana confirmed the move, stating:
“The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has issued guidelines for state RERAs to establish enforcement mechanisms. Telangana is now implementing these guidelines to improve accountability in the real estate sector.”
Collectors Empowered Under Revenue Recovery Act
Until now, enforcement depended largely on district collectors invoking the Revenue Recovery Act (RRA) to implement RERA decisions. However, with district collectors overburdened by routine administrative duties and welfare scheme rollouts, implementation often faced significant delays.
Currently, if a TGRERA or appellate tribunal order is not complied with within 30 to 60 days, the aggrieved party must file an execution petition. As per TGRERA data, 96 such execution petitions are currently pending. These include cases of pending project handovers, penalty recoveries, and even developer payments from buyers.
Amendments to RERA Rules for Direct Enforcement
To overcome these bottlenecks, the Telangana government has amended the Telangana Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Rules, 2017, granting TGRERA independent enforcement powers. These amendments allow the authority to directly recover penalties, interest, and compensation without relying solely on district administration.
Another key change in the amended rules is the expanded definition of ‘ongoing projects’. Projects that are still under construction and do not possess Occupancy or Completion Certificates will now fall within TGRERA’s ambit—even if launched before 2017. The move resolves earlier confusion caused by conflicting dates: January 1, 2017 (as per initial government order) versus May 1, 2017 (as per official rules).
Impact on Real Estate Regulation in Telangana
This decisive shift from passive regulation to active enforcement strengthens buyer protection and reinforces the legal validity of TGRERA orders. By eliminating delays in the enforcement process and providing clarity on ongoing project definitions, the authority ensures greater transparency, accountability, and trust in the real estate sector.
Legal experts and homebuyer associations have welcomed the move, stating that this could significantly deter errant developers and streamline dispute resolution.
