Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority defunct now; here's how it will affect homebuyers

In an unprecedented situation, the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) has ceased operations after all three of its members retired or resigned, leaving homebuyers in a dilemma.

The authority became fully defunct on Saturday, following the retirement of its last acting chairperson, Gopal Chandra Patnaik, on Friday.

ORERA, which requires three members to function, has been without leadership since February when chairperson Siddhanta Das resigned prematurely and another senior member, Pradeep Biswal, retired in May, completing the collapse.

What Real Estate Activist Bimalendu Pradhan Says:

- With ORERA non-functional, grievance redressal, project registrations, and regulatory activities are frozen.

- In this scenario, homebuyers cannot file complaints against builders, register new projects, or extend deadlines for ongoing developments.

- Further, real estate agents are unable to obtain licenses, and critical forensic audits, initiated to protect buyers from fraudulent projects, are stalled. 

- The authority also cannot defend itself in legal appeals, risking unresolved disputes in courts.

ALSO READ: Bhubaneswar flat buyers in dilemma as ORERA revokes registration of 2 housing projects

Government’s Delay Under Fire

Despite initiating recruitment for new members months ago, the state housing department has allegedly failed to finalise appointments.

While officials claim the process is ongoing, with names being forwarded to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), no timeline exists for resolution. The delay has drawn sharp criticism, with activists blaming the government for neglecting homebuyers’ rights.

Regardless, until new members are appointed, thousands of homebuyers may face uncertainty, with no seemingly legal recourse for delayed projects or fraud.