Bombay HC Orders Municipalities to Integrate Websites with MahaRERA for Real-Time Certificate Verification

The Bombay High Court has instructed all municipal corporations, councils, and urban local authorities in Maharashtra to integrate their websites with the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) portal within three months. This directive is intended to enable real-time verification of commencement and occupation certificates (CCs and OCs), safeguarding consumer interests and preventing document forgery.

Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar emphasized that until full integration is achieved, authorities must upload CCs and OCs on their websites within 48 hours of issuance to maintain transparency.

Ensuring Transparency for Homebuyers

The judgment stems from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by architect Sandeep Patil, who highlighted unauthorized construction in certain areas and sought measures to prevent the registration of illegal buildings. The PIL advocated for a rational policy framework to verify the authenticity of documents submitted for project registrations. The court acknowledged the prevalence of forged documents used to bypass compliance requirements and underscored the importance of legally authenticated submissions as per Section 4(1) of the RERA Act.

Digital Coordination to Combat Forgery

Advancing digital governance, the court directed MahaRERA to strengthen coordination with municipal councils and corporations, granting direct access to their databases for swift verification of project-related documents. A government resolution (GR) from February 2023 had already mandated this integration, but significant gaps in compliance remain. While 454 local bodies had started displaying CCs and OCs on the system, 26 planning authorities are yet to follow suit.

Strict Timelines for Implementation

To ensure comprehensive adherence, the court mandated the state government to rigorously enforce the GR and complete the integration within the stipulated three-month timeframe. Effective June 19, 2023, RERA has been tasked with verifying the authenticity of all CCs submitted before granting project registrations, further reinforcing its role in maintaining transparency and protecting homebuyers.