IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
M.A.ABDUL HAKHIM, J.
K.V Subha W/o Late C.P Sivaraj – Appellant
Versus
Kannur Heights Apartments Owners Association – Respondent
JUDGMENT :
1. The appellants were the respondents 1 to 3 in Complaint No. 58/2021 before the Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority (for short ‘the K-RERA’) filed by the 1st respondent/Apartment Owners Association. The 2nd respondent/Allottee also had filed Complaint No.113/2021 against the appellants.
2. The K-RERA considered the maintainability of the complaints and by its Order dated 06.10.2021 dismissed both the complaints holding that the Project by name ‘Kannur Heights Apartments’ was completed in the year 2009 and Occupancy Certificate was obtained on 29.08.2009 prior to the commencement of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (for short ‘the Act’).
3. The complainant in Complaint No.58 alone filed Appeal before the Appellate Tribunal as REFA No.4/2022. The complainant in Complaint No.113/2021 filed A.R.No.113/2021 in this Court to initiate arbitration proceedings for redressal of his grievance and this Court by Order dated 25/11/2022 dismissed Arbitration Request holding that since the said complainant has already approached the K-RERA, he has waived his right to invoke the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
4. The Appellate Tribunal al
The court ruled that an Occupancy Certificate issued before the Real Estate Act's enforcement is conclusive, exempting the project from registration requirements.
The existence and date of issuance of occupancy certificates are critical in determining whether a real estate project is ongoing under the RERA.
Non-compliance with regulatory requirements justifies classification as an 'ongoing project' under applicable law.
The court established that deemed occupancy granted prior to the enactment of the Real Estate Act means registration under it is not mandatory for ongoing projects, setting aside conflicting orders.
All real estate projects with occupancy certificates issued after 01.05.2017 are considered ongoing and shall be registered under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, entitling allottees....
The distinction between occupancy certificate and completion certificate is crucial in determining the applicability of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, and the requirement for....
A project with a completion certificate issued prior to RERA's enactment is not considered ongoing under the RERA Act, thus not subject to its jurisdiction.
The Act, 2016 is retroactive in operation, and the court clarified the requirements for project registration, the validity of completion certificates, and the procedure for imposing penalties.
The court affirmed that ongoing real estate projects must be registered under RERA to protect allottee interests, regardless of title transfer.
Projects receiving partial occupancy certificates prior to enactment are exempt from certain provisions of Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act.
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