The Gujarat High Court issued a notice to the state government and the Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority regarding a petition challenging the appointment of chairman and other members of the authority.

The notices were also given on the decisions taken by the authority during the last one year.

The division bench of Justice SR Brahmbhatt and Justice AP Thaker, on Tuesday, issued notices in this regard.

The HC directed the government and RERA to file their replies by July 8 in this context.

The petitioner filed a petition challenging the appointments as they were made against the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Act.

Advocate DK Puj on behalf of his petitioner Title Investigators and Conveyancing Advocates’ Bar Association has contended that the selection committee for the appointments was not formed.

He also said that the qualifications that are essential for the positions were not considered.

In this regard, they demanded the nullification of the appointments by the court.

The petitioner also raised questions on the appointment of ‘legal service provider’ by RERA claiming that it was not done according to the competitive bidding process.

As a result, only a few big law firms can qualify for the finalization of the legal service provider.

Most of these law firms have a conflict of interest since they work with various key developers in the state.

Hence, a public notice has been issued on the empanelment of lawyers by challenging it.

The petitioner also raised the grievance on the way the website of the authority has been maintained.

The next hearing on this matter is scheduled on July 8.

Image Attribution: Maulik Kansara / CC BY-SA

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