PANAJI: Nine home buyers who invested in flats at the ‘Sai Ishwari’ housing complex in Mapusa nearly a decade ago are still without possession. The North Goa district and sessions court has ruled that it cannot transfer ownership of the apartments due to the absence of a final occupancy certificate for the project.
The court has sent the case back to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), affirming that it operates with limited jurisdiction as an executing court. The order stated, “The construction/project is not yet completed and lacks a final occupancy certificate; hence, possession of the flats cannot be delivered as previously ordered. A letter should be issued to RERA to inform them and outline the next steps.”
Goa RERA had previously directed the builder, Hrija Construction, to finish the development and hand over the flats to the buyers by April 30, 2020, but the builder failed to comply. After using its enforcement mechanisms, RERA referred the case to the North Goa district court in August 2024 for execution.
The buyers, including Swaroop Natekar, Sandeep Tople, Dattatray Dalvi, Andrio D Costa, and Sulbha Mishal, purchased these flats in the project launched in 2015 at Karaswada, Bardez, with expectations of possession by 2019.
With the court’s latest referral to RERA, the buyers are now feeling both anxious and frustrated.
Having signed sale agreements in the presence of the Mapusa sub-registrar, the buyers were promised possession within four years, with the project consisting of 17 flats.
Despite repeated inquiries, the buyers allege they were met with false reassurances from the developers.
Additionally, the nine homebuyers filed a complaint with the Mapusa police, alleging fraud and requesting an investigation into how VPK Urban Cooperative Credit Society approved a loan for the builder against the mortgaged residential complex.
The buyers now find themselves in a stalemate between the judiciary and RERA, with no clear resolution in sight.
