Maharashtra RERA Grapples with Significant Backlog of Unresolved Complaints
According to the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-26, released in the state legislative assembly on Thursday, the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) is currently dealing with a substantial backlog of unresolved complaints. The report reveals that at least 6,366 complaints remain pending, underscoring persistent delays in addressing disputes between homebuyers and developers across the state.
Complaint Statistics and Regulatory Framework
As of December 2025, MahaRERA has registered a total of 53,012 real estate projects. Since its establishment, the authority has received 32,377 complaints from aggrieved parties. Out of these, 26,011 complaints have been successfully resolved, leaving the significant remainder of 6,366 cases still awaiting final adjudication.
MahaRERA was constituted under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, with the primary mandate to regulate the real estate sector by ensuring:
- Transparency in all property transactions
- Financial discipline among developers
- Protection of homebuyers' interests and investments
The authority operates through conciliation and quasi-judicial mechanisms to hold developers accountable and provide effective grievance redressal.
Resolution Efforts and Annual Performance
Officials from MahaRERA have highlighted that a systematic approach by three dedicated adjudicating officers has contributed to reducing the overall backlog. The annual complaint resolution data shows a marked improvement in recent years:
- 2025: 5,039 new complaints were filed, while 6,945 orders were issued from previously pending cases.
- 2024: 3,880 complaints were received, with 3,824 resolutions achieved.
- 2023: 4,000 complaints were registered, leading to 2,784 resolutions.
Authorities have implemented a new system to ensure that all complaints registered up to November 2025 have either undergone their first hearing or have scheduled hearing dates. This mechanism aims to acknowledge and list complaints within one to two months of filing, streamlining the initial stages of the dispute resolution process.
Consumer Concerns and Calls for Reform
Despite these efforts, consumer advocacy bodies have expressed dissatisfaction with the current pace of redressal. They are urging for stricter and faster mechanisms, citing unnecessary delays in issuing final orders and recovery warrants. "The delay needs to be addressed urgently to ensure the system works effectively," emphasized a representative from a prominent consumer body.
Consumer activist S. Joshi pointed out that the economic survey clearly indicates a significant number of pending disputes, which highlights the pressing need for expedited case disposal. This is particularly critical as both the number of registered projects and subsequent complaints continue to rise steadily.
National Context and Supreme Court Observations
The issue of RERA effectiveness is not confined to Maharashtra alone. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of India criticized RERA bodies nationwide, stating that they were doing little beyond facilitating defaulting builders. In a stern observation during the State of Himachal Pradesh vs Naresh Sharma case, the court even suggested the possibility of abolishing these regulatory bodies if they fail to perform adequately. This case specifically concerned the relocation of the Himachal Pradesh RERA office from Shimla to Dharamshala.
MahaRERA, being among the first state regulators to operationalize the central RERA law, has been extensively utilized by homebuyers for addressing common issues such as:
- Delayed possession of properties
- Unauthorized project alterations
- Refund claims and financial disputes
A real estate expert commented, "There is an urgent need to address the dispute resolving mechanism to restore confidence among homebuyers and ensure timely justice."
The persistent backlog at MahaRERA reflects broader challenges in India's real estate regulatory framework, necessitating continuous reforms and enhanced operational efficiency to protect consumer rights and maintain sectoral integrity.
