State to depend on Assam to resolve real estate disputes

SHILLONG: The state government will request Assam government to allow Meghalaya to utilise their Real Estate Appellate Tribunal to take up the cases of the state.
The cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal in this regard.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, MDA spokesperson, James Sangma said that the cabinet in February this year had approved the Meghalaya Real Estate Regulation and Development General Rules and it was also decided that the Chief Information Commissioner should act as Real Estate Appellate Tribunal.
However, when the information was shared, the counsel of the government in Supreme Court raised that the decision of the state government was not in accordance with the direction of the Supreme Court and the court has made it clear that a permanent arrangement needs to be put in place.
The cabinet on Thursday discussed the matter and observed that real estate development is still at a nascent stage in Meghalaya and establishing a real estate regulatory authority and real estate tribunal appellate would put huge financial burden on the government and hence a proposal was made before the cabinet to consider a decision of utilising the real estate appellate tribunal of Assam to take up cases in the state as the number of cases from Meghalaya would not be huge and it would also reduce the financial burden on the government.
The cabinet approved the proposal and the concerned department was allowed to take up the matter with Assam to utilise their real estate Tribunal.
Sangma said that setting up of a Tribunal in the state would require separate infrastructure and support staff and huge budgetary requirement of the government.
Stating that informal discussions have taken place in this regard with the neighbouring state, he said that Urban Affairs department would take up the matter with the Government of Assam.
He also said that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has taken up the matter with Assam and the latter expressed willingness, and now the matter would be officially taken up with the counterpart.
Rules approved
The state government on Thursday approved an amendment to the Rules of executive business of Government of Meghalaya, and now the amendments will be incorporate in the rules.