Allahabad HC Issues Notice to Noida Authority
The Allahabad High Court has sent a notice to the Noida Authority and other government bodies regarding a petition filed by apartment owners in the Gaur Sportswood housing project in Sector 79.
The petitioners, 44 apartment owners, are asking for the removal of a registry ban that has been in place since 2020. They want to be able to register their apartments and get legal ownership under the Sports City housing scheme.
Dispute Over Sports City Housing Scheme
The issue started with the Sports City group housing scheme, which was meant to create world-class sports facilities on 70% of the land. However, the developers focused mostly on building residential apartments.
This led the Noida Authority to stop the registration of properties, approval of maps, and issuing occupancy certificates starting in January 2021. This decision affected housing projects in sectors like 78, 79, and 150, and impacted about 30,000 apartment owners.
Court Orders a Response from Noida Authority
On December 13, 2024, a bench of Justices Anish Kumar Gupta and Manoj Kumar Gupta asked the Noida Authority to respond by January 10, 2025. The court’s order requires the Noida Authority to provide updates about the situation.
Noida Authority Cites Violations
The Noida Authority claims that the developers violated the rules by not creating the required sports infrastructure. The authority also mentioned that the developers didn’t follow the conditions of land use, leading to revenue loss. As a result, the Noida Authority suggested an inquiry into the land allotment in 2021, which is still ongoing.
Apartment Owners Demand Legal Ownership
The petitioners argue that they have paid for their apartments and met all the necessary requirements, but the registry ban has stopped them from getting legal ownership. One of the petitioners, Sanwarjeet Dasoundi, said, “We should not suffer because of the developers’ mistakes.” Another petitioner, Vishal Garg, pointed out that the developer had already obtained the required certificates, yet they are still being denied the right to register their properties.
Buyers Question the Authority's Role
The apartment owners also question why the Noida Authority allowed the construction and sale of the apartments if they knew about the violations. They want the ban to be lifted so they can gain legal ownership of their homes. Sharad K. Singh, another petitioner, asked, “Why did the authority let buyers invest if it wasn’t going to allow registries later?”
Noida Authority Responds
In response to the petitioners’ concerns, Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M said that the registry ban was imposed due to violations by the developers. He also mentioned that the matter is still under review by the state government, and the authority will take appropriate action after the court’s decision.
