ORERA to appoint land expert to resolve complex property disputes

The Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) has initiated the process to appoint a land expert to assist in resolving complex property disputes and ensuring faster, transparent resolution for homebuyers, promoters, and other stakeholders.

The decision comes alongside the introduction of a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for part plot registrations, aimed at eliminating administrative ambiguities across the state.

Expert to Guide Dispute Resolution

According to The Times of India, ORERA has called for applications from retired Odisha Administrative Service officers, preferably those who served as tehsildars, sub-collectors, or land acquisition officers for a minimum of eight years.

Applicants must be under 62 years of age. The appointed consultant will provide technical guidance in scrutinising land documents, evaluating building and layout plans, and assisting in resolving disputes that require specialised land expertise.

CDR Cell in Operation

The appointment complements the functioning of ORERA’s Conciliation and Dispute Resolution (CDR) cell in September this year, established under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.

The cell provides an alternative platform for disputes between promoters, agents, and allottees, offering a faster and cost-effective resolution mechanism. Disputes are expected to be resolved within two months, and binding agreements reached through conciliation are enforceable.

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Cases that fail to reach a settlement are referred back to ORERA or the appropriate courts for formal adjudication.

It is worth noting that ORERA’s enforcement powers have been expanded to include real-time notifications of project approvals, integration with digital land records, and closer coordination with the Housing and Urban Development Department and district revenue offices.

District collectors and tehsildars have been instructed to report unauthorised real estate activities, while regular coordination and review meetings track compliance and progress.