In February, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the state government has been working on a new uniform law for the benefit of home buyers, especially those who bought flats at residential apartment complexes.
This announcement delighted lakhs of homebuyers, but eight months later, the government is yet to come out with the draft of the proposed Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act.
Homebuyers are urging the state government to expedite the completion of the draft on the amendments to the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, 1972, to ensure ownership rights on the land used for the construction of residential apartment complexes.
According to them, the longer it takes to release the draft, the more issues homebuyers would face as some of the developers did not handover the rights on the ownership of the land to the registered residents’ associations of the respective apartment complexes.
“Congress, in its manifesto, has assured homebuyers to amend the existing Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act 1972. We expected the Congress to honour its commitment. I want the government to come out with the draft on the amendments to the Act,’’ said Naval veteran commander Surendra (retired).
It may be recalled that Basavanagudi MLA LA Ravi Subramanya raised the issue during the State Assembly Session and the DyCM stated that the government is in favour of amending the existing Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, 1972. The DyCM also invited suggestions from elected representatives on the proposed amendments to the said Act.
Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, convener of Karnataka Home Buyers Forum said that the Housing Department, which is responsible for the implementation of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in Karnataka, has confirmed the new Apartment Ownership Act.
“It is a good step, but we request the government to release the draft at the earliest to the public so that home buyers can review and suggest recommendations. Creating a law is a lengthy process, and the government needs to act fast in this regard,’’ he said.
In a response to Padmanabhachar’s letter, the Under Secretary of the Department of Housing (RERA) Hemavathy stated that the draft for the amendments of the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act 1972 is in the final stage. “The new Act will come into force shortly,’’ she said in a letter dated September 30.
