The Maharashtra government has appointed 12 senior recovery officers to expedite the enforcement of warrants issued by the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) against negligent developers in a clear attempt to assist distressed homebuyers. In six important districts, the appointments are made under the district collectors’ authority with the goal of accelerating the compensation process in compliance with the 1966 Maharashtra Land Revenue Code.
The initiative follows sustained pressure from property buyers struggling to receive court-ordered compensation from developers, despite favourable MahaRERA rulings. Acting on earlier assurances from Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the state issued a government resolution on 22 April, committing to resolve all pending recovery cases within a span of three months.
Under Section 40(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, MahaRERA has the authority to issue recovery warrants, allowing for the attachment of properties and recovery of dues. While the law applies to both developers and buyers, the majority of the 1,342 warrants issued so far have been directed at defaulting builders. However, enforcement has lagged significantly, with district authorities — particularly in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune — executing only 316 warrants to date. This has led to widespread frustration among affected homeowners.
As per MahaRERA data, compensation totalling ₹912.11 crore has been sanctioned across Maharashtra. Of this, Rs 222.13 crore has been recovered, while Rs 689.98 crore remains outstanding. A substantial portion of the pending amount — Rs 684.56 crore — is concentrated in six districts: Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Pune, Palghar, and Raigad. Mumbai Suburban alone accounts for Rs 325.43 crore of the dues, with Pune following at Rs 177.37 crore.
In contrast, Nagpur has demonstrated relatively strong performance, recovering Rs 9.66 crore of the Rs 10.9 crore awarded across 20 cases — a notable efficiency when compared to other districts.
Sources from MahaRERA told The Times of India that the newly appointed recovery officers, comprising experienced senior revenue officials, will prioritise quicker enforcement of warrants, property attachment, and structured reporting to both the state government and MahaRERA. The government resolution also lays out detailed responsibilities for coordinating officers to ensure streamlined operations and improved accountability.
This move is in line with guidelines from the central government that were released on January 1, 2024, and called for stricter enforcement of real estate laws in order to safeguard the interests of consumers. The governor of Maharashtra issued the digitally authenticated decree, which confirms the state’s commitment to giving long-overdue relief to homeowners affected by regulatory breaches and halted housing projects.
Homebuyer advocacy groups have expressed cautious optimism about the move, but how quickly and effectively the new recovery officers can clear the significant backlog of pending compensation cases will determine how beneficial it is in the long run.
Source: TOI
