Odisha: Bill for apartment ownership, management tabled in House
After the enactment of the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016, it has become expedient to bring forth amendment to the Odisha Apartment Ownership Act, 1982.
Published: 26th September 2023 12:07 PM | Last Updated: 26th September 2023 12:07 PM | A+A A-
Image of Odisha Assembly used for representational purpose only. (Photo | Express)
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2023, a new piece of legislation to replace the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Ordinance was tabled in the Assembly on Monday.
Introducing the Bill in the House, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Usha Devi explained the circumstances in which the state government promulgated the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Ordinance, 2023 to regulate apartment ownership and management.
She said the Odisha Apartment Ownership Act, 1982 was enacted with a view of making provisions for ownership of an individual apartment which came into force on May 1, 1984 and the Odisha Apartment Ownership Rules, 1992 framed thereafter. It was seen in the course of administration that the provisions of the Act and Rules suffer from some operational deficiencies relating to appropriate definitions, jurisdiction and powers of the competent authority, inadequate safeguard of the interest of apartment owners.
After the enactment of the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016, it has become expedient to bring forth amendment to the Odisha Apartment Ownership Act, 1982. Hence, a new legislation has been proposed instead of going for an exhaustive amendment in the existing Act, the minister said.
She said the Act and Rules intended to promote apartment and group housing but over a period of time it had become essential to provide the individual apartment owners with the rights on common areas and facilities appurtenant to such apartment and the responsibility of its proper maintenance and to make such apartment and interest heritable and transferable.
In the meantime, cases have also been filed in the Orissa High Court challenging the notification of Odisha Apartment Ownership Rules, 2021 on the ground of apparent contradictions prevailing between the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 and the said rules. In view of such litigation, registration of the apartments has been stalled and the state government is losing revenue as the sale deeds were not getting registered. As the situation is prevailing for a long time and there is an immediate need for amendment of the legislation to address the impasse, it is considered expedient to enact a new legislation, the minister said.
