Maharashtra's societies welfare body protests against denial of deemed conveyance by babus

Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association (MSWA) on Sunday organised a rally in Dombivli against the rigid rules for deemed conveyance. Participants of the rally, which was led by MSWA chairman Ramesh Prabhu, demanded immediate implementation of one-window clearance, besides reduction in paperwork and stamp duty, etc.

As per deemed conveyance provisions, if the builder or landowner does not give conveyance within four months of registration of society, it will be deemed to have been conveyed. After the expiry of the statutory period of four months, the government has empowered the district deputy registrar to execute the conveyance deed on behalf of the defaulting promoters/builder/landowner.

However, according to Prabhu, collector of stamps, district deputy registrar and city survey officers refuse to perform their duty in this regard, citing more reasons than the developer. They quote a government resolution (GR) that makes occupation certificate (OC) a must. Although Maharashtra Ownership Act, 1963 doesn't make OC a prerequisite for getting deemed conveyance, the said officials create such hurdles as they do not want to do their designated duties, he said.

"Even the government has failed to give any clear directions. Therefore, we had to organise this one-day protest rally from Arjun Complex CHS to Dombivli station. Local MLA Ravindra Chavan and corporator Gharat of MNS supported the rally. MLA Chavan assured the protesters that he would meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during the monsoon session and work out a solution," Prabhu informed.

The MSWA has decided to organise many such protests across the state if deemed conveyance rules were not simplified and a one-window clearance system was not put in place.

"Since the builders' duty has been transferred to government officers, for housing societies, they are builders. Instead of resolving conveyance issues by giving deemed conveyance, these officials have been giving various reasons to deny the same to housing societies," rued Prabhu.