50 Haryana builders sans licences

PANCHKULA: More than 50 builders in Haryana have been found to be working without a valid licence. This was discovered by the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA) while scrutinising applications filed by builders for registration of real estate projects.

Projects of these builders are at different stages of development.

Taking cognisance of the matter, HRERA has initiated action against the defaulting builders under Section 5 (1) (b) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act. The said provision lays down the process for the grant or rejection of registration.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dilbag Singh Sihag, executive director of Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority, said, “We have issued notices to more than 140 builders for not providing the requisite information with their application for registration. Out of these, more than 50 have been found to be working without a valid licence.”

He added, “We had earlier issued them notices to rectify any deficiency in their application. A 30-day period was given for the same. After they failed to respond to the notice and furnish the requisite information, along with the valid licences, we reissued notices to them.”

Hearings in the case will start later this month.

Under the said act, no application can be rejected unless the applicant is given an opportunity of being heard under the principles of natural justice.

Every incomplete project must be registered with the state RERA, and the builder can be fined or imprisoned for violation of the Act.

“Under Section 3(1) of the RERA Act, no promoter can advertise, market, book, sell or offer for sale, or invite persons to purchase in any manner any plot, apartment or building, as the case may be, in any real estate project or part of it, in any planning area, without registering the real estate project with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority established under this Act,” Sihag said.

Earlier, taking suo motto cognisance of the violations of the Section 3, the authority had issued notices to 19 builders in the state. So far, the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority has received more than 600 applications for registration under the RERA Act.

Of these, registration has been granted to 345 applicants. Besides, registration has also been granted to 550 real estate agents.