BENGALURU: The Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority (K-RERA), mandated to ensure transparency and accountability in property transactions to safeguard home buyers, is facing criticism. Several purchasers are voicing their dissatisfaction with the authority’s operations, leading one distressed buyer to file a complaint with the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC).
Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, a resident of Sobha Arena Apartment in Thalaghattapura, lodged the complaint due to K-RERA’s alleged procrastination in issuing an order related to his case concerning deficiencies in the Sobha Arena Project.
In his grievance, Padmanabhachar mentioned being a buyer of a unit in the Sobha Arena Apartments. “I identified numerous service deficiencies and registered a complaint with RERA in August 2023, under complaint no 01220/2023. While the RERA has addressed the matter, it has scheduled the order for April 9, 2025. It has been over three months since then, yet no orders have been released,” the complaint states.
Padmanabhachar emphasized the significant delay in rendering justice. “As a quasi-judicial body, K-RERA should resolve cases expeditiously and release orders promptly. However, the authority has not issued any judgments even after three months,” he noted.
In past instances, K-RERA has penalized builders for delays in delivering properties to buyers and has increased penalties to protect aggrieved parties. Despite this, ongoing delays in judgment issuance are leaving many buyers frustrated.
“Corrupt developers are exploiting the Karnataka RERA Act, using it as a tool to deceive and market projects as certified by RERA, luring buyers into fraudulent schemes,” stated Errol Noronha, President of the Ozone Urbana Buyers Welfare Association.
Noronha, who has withdrawn a case from K-RERA, criticized the lengthy process: “Obtaining a Karnataka RERA Order often takes over a year, yielding minimal practical value and incurring significant legal costs without results.” He also pointed out that developers frequently fail to attend hearings, leading to unnecessary delays that further burden petitioners financially.
“The Karnataka RERA Act is routinely circumvented by dishonest developers, who partner with financial institutions to exploit home buyers,” he added.
