Category: Regulatory

Keep up with important regulatory news affecting real estate, including government policies, tax reforms, compliance requirements, and RERA updates. Understand how these regulations impact developers, investors, and buyers.

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Goa CAG: Welfare Gaps for Construction Workers, Safety Laxity

Representative image PANAJI: A performance audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has revealed significant shortcomings in the implementation of welfare measures for building and other construction (BOC) workers in Goa. Key issues identified include the non-registration of migrant laborers, inadequate data sharing among agencies, and insufficient inspections to ensure workplace safety. The audit specifically looked into the operations of the Goa Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives from July 2018. These directives mandated that states implement a model scheme for BOC workers and strengthen enforcement efforts. The…

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Karnataka HC: RERA-validated co-ops can manage apartments

By Sanjana CS BENGALURU: A significant ruling from the High Court on June 30 has brought much-needed relief to flat owners. The single bench’s decision supports a registered cooperative society of allottees who have faced challenges for over 11 years. Justice Suraj Govindaraj presided over a case highlighting disputes among apartment owners, agreement holders, and builders concerning the completion and maintenance of an apartment complex. It was revealed that builders had manipulated an unauthorized association for illicit activities, contesting a Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) order. The High Court dismantled this facade and reaffirmed the RERA order, thereby reinstating authority…

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Nashik Exempts Telecom Firms from Realty Tax on Towers

Image for representation only. NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) will exempt telecom companies from property tax on mobile towers starting January 2025. However, these companies must settle their outstanding dues by December 2024. This decision aligns with the guidelines issued by the state government’s urban development department. According to Section 14 (3) of the Telecommunication Act, 2023, telecommunication networks on any property will not be classified as part of that property, exempting them from property tax or duties. The central government recently expressed concern about local authorities not implementing this Act. In response, the state government’s urban development department…

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40 Revenue Officials Served Show-Cause Notices for Sand Mining

AI-generated Representative Image COIMBATORE: Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar, the Coimbatore district collector, has issued show-cause notices to 40 current and former revenue department officials for their inability to halt illegal sand mining in Perur taluk from 2019 to 2025. The district collector informed TOI that officials have been requested to submit written explanations. Further actions will be determined based on their responses. Sources reveal that the notices target four tahsildars, 22 village administrative officers (VAOs), as well as some deputy tahsildars and revenue inspectors. These notices were issued under Section 17(a) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules,…

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Income Tax Dept. Spots Reporting Gaps in Property Sales

NAGPUR: The income tax department is seeing an increasing number of tax evasion petitions (TEPs) concerning undisclosed property transactions. Officials say that underreporting by land registrar offices may be contributing to defaulters hiding these deals. TEPs, which are formal complaints from the public about tax evasion, have drawn attention to the failure to disclose significant property sales in tax returns. Reports indicate that around 20% of these petitions relate to such issues. Investigations have substantiated several allegations, resulting in the imposition of capital gains tax. In some instances, transactions were carried out entirely in cash. Land registrars, governed by the…

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Vijayawada’s vacant land tax committee targets ₹870 crore recovery

VIJAYAWADA: To improve tax collection revenue, the NTR district administration has established a Vacant Land Tax Committee (VLTC) tasked with recovering pending vacant land tax dues from taxpayers within the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) limits. The VLTC consists of personnel from both the VMC’s revenue department and the NTR district administration, alongside town planning representatives and staff from the stamps and registration department. Despite a Rs 237 crore demand for vacant land tax, only Rs 19 crore—8.18% of the total—was collected in the previous financial year (2024-25). There are approximately 15,000 vacant land tax assessments within the 64 divisions across…

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Goa Proposes Bill to Lower Stamp Duty in Certain Cases

PANAJI: On Wednesday, the state government introduced a bill aimed at reducing the stamp duty burden on mortgagors for properties mortgaged without possession. The bill also seeks to promote the registration of family trust deeds. According to the Indian Stamp (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2025, the proposed reduction in stamp duty for mortgages and trusts may impact state revenue, but the exact loss cannot be quantified at this time. This initiative is part of a broader effort to rationalize stamp duty on such instruments. The bill establishes a stamp duty of Rs 1,000 for mortgage deeds, excluding certain agreements (e.g., title…

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Telangana HC Probes Alleged Illegal Builds at Nandagiri Hills

HYDERABAD: Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court ordered the principal secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department to launch a thorough investigation into the alleged illegal constructions by M/s Net Net Ventures at Nandagiri Hills in Jubilee Hills. The ruling came in response to a petition from the Nandagiri Hills Cooperative House Building Society urging the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other authorities to take action based on a Vigilance & Enforcement (V&E) report dated June 18, 2024, which pointed out significant building code violations by Net Net Ventures. Some notable violations include unauthorized…

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Bengaluru Body Revises OC Stance After Yearlong Delay

BENGALURU: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has issued a new circular regarding rectified occupancy certificates, providing much-needed relief to home buyers. For years, many buyers struggled to obtain occupancy certificates because of the requirement to reserve 10% of flats for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). This regulation was challenged in court, and the High Court deemed the original BDA circular from November 8, 2010, unconstitutional. While the petition was resolved on August 7, 2024, the BDA took almost a year to release the revised circular. The High Court ruled that according to Article 300A of the Indian Constitution, no individual can…

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Bombay HC Extends Tardeo Tower Eviction Deadline by Three Weeks

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has granted an additional three weeks for residents of the top 18 floors of the 34-storey Tardeo tower to vacate their homes. On August 1, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s ruling, which instructed the residents to vacate the floors without an occupancy certificate. The initial deadline was set for August 2. The Supreme Court indicated that residents could apply for an extension through the High Court. They requested four weeks, citing the need for alternate housing for their school-going children. The High Court granted the extension, noting it as a ‘mercy plea,’ and…