3 min readMumbaiMar 14, 2014 01:06 PM IST
First published on: Sep 27, 2013 at 05:39 AM IST
With three in four registered housing societies in Maharashtra yet to get the right to title of the plot on which they stand,the state government has decided to convene Lok Adalats for deemed conveyance matters.
The decision comes in the backdrop of a review meeting by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan,who also holds the housing portfolio. Senior officials said the housing department had now submitted a proposal in this regard to the CMO following directives issued by Chavan. According to norms,developers or landlords are to transfer the title in the society’s name within four months of the formation of a housing society. However,with rights like the future use of floor space index and legal ownership of the plot linked to the property title,most developers and landlords tend not to obey this norm.
In fact,sources said,in the case of 59,000 out of 88,000 eligible cooperative housing societies,the title was yet to be conveyed. In February 2008,the state government modified norms to induct a provision allowing societies to apply for deemed conveyance in cases where developers or landlords were not cooperating.
The provision came into force on October 27,2010,when the government issued a final notification in this regard. The government,however,has since received applications from barely 3,800-odd societies.
The disposal rate of these applications too has not been exactly encouraging so far,with 1,300-odd applications pending. To encourage societies to come forward,the government has even launched a special drive from December 2012. Officials,however,admitted that response to even this has been less than desired. “The time taken to dispose of application,requirement to make multiple visits to various government offices and the extent of documentation insisted has deterred societies,” said an official.
The government initially streamlined the documentation required. It has also initiated measures to allow applications online to cut down on the time and multiple visits. Officials said that the latest move of holding Lok Adalats was also aimed at speedier implementation.
Allegations of corruption and bribes sought for deemed conveyance have been raised by public representatives. Officials said holding such Lok Adalats would also provide a platform to society representatives to air such concerns.
by Sandeep Ashar
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