Maharashtra State Authority to hear complaints against Builders - country first

With complaints against Builders riding in numbers, the Maharashtra State Government has decided to constitute a Housing Regulatory Authority to safeguard the interests of homebuyers. 

The authority will be a quasi-judicial body and resolve disputes related to the housing sector. Four benches are likely to be established to hear the cases at different cities in the state.

With this decision, Maharashtra, with the highest ratio of urbanisation and real estate activities in the country, will become the first state to constitute such an authority,

The Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Development) 2012 was passed two years ago and Presidential assent came in 2014.

The deadline to frame rules for the authority is October 31 and the process is underway.

An officer attached with the housing department, said, 

"There are over 30,000 disputes pending before various courts and forums regarding alleged malpractices by developers, Most of the complaints from Mumbai and Pune are because of the high density of housing construction activities. After drafting the rules, objections and suggestions will be invited from the people to make more reforms before constituting the body."

"The state has received the official nod from the Centre to set up its own regulatory authority for the state. We are in the process of forming rules and regulations after which the authority will come into existence," he added.

Source: http://www.punemirror.in/pune/civic/Govt-body-to-solve-homebuyers-woes/articleshow/54299390.cms

We, The People. ... saw 400 deaths everyday in 2015 Road Accidents!

An official report, released by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, said 1.46 lakh people were killed in road accidents in India in 2015 — an increase of five per cent from 2014.

Road accidents, as a whole, rose 2.5 per cent during 2015 to 5.01 lakh or 374 accidents every day, claiming 400 lives, the report said.

Majority (54.1 per cent) of those killed in 2015 were in the age group of 15-34. Thirteen States, including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, accounted for the highest number of accidents. Among cities, while Mumbai had the highest number of accidents (23,468), Delhi saw the most number of such deaths (1,622).

Also, drivers’ fault was responsible for 77.1 per cent of the accidents, deaths and injuries, mainly because of overspeeding, the report noted.

So many were not killed even in wars, epidemic and militancy,” Mr. Gadkari said.

Source: http://m.thehindu.com/news/national/146-lakh-lives-lost-on-indian-roads-last-year/article8710699.ece

Ordinance promulgated to amend the Enemy Property Act, 1968

The Enemy Property (Amendment and
Validation) Ordinance, 2016 was promulgated on January 7, 2016.

 The Ordinance amends the Enemy Property Act, 1968 and the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants)
Act, 1971.
After the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, the central government took over the properties (called ‘enemy properties’) of those who migrated from India and became citizens of Pakistan (i.e., ‘enemy’). These properties were vested in the office of the ‘custodian of enemy property’, instituted under the central government.
 The 1968 Act regulates rights over these enemy properties, and the powers of their custodian.
In July 2010, an Ordinance was introduced to amend the Act (subsequently lapsed).

 This Ordinance clarified that the office of the custodian will retain its power over enemy properties, even after the enemy dies, or if the legal heir is an Indian citizen, or the enemy changes his nationality, etc.
The 2016 Ordinance also provides for the same.

In addition, it amends the Act to broaden the definition of enemies. For instance, the Act provided that a citizen of India cannot be considered an enemy. Under the 2016
Ordinance, legal heirs of enemies (even if they are Indian citizens) will be considered enemies.

This will mean they will not be able to inherit enemy properties, or enjoy any benefits arising from them.

The 2016 Ordinance also modifies powers of the custodian of enemy property. For example, it adds the power to fix and collect rent, and evict unauthorised occupants from such properties.

For the purpose of allowing regulation of
unauthorised occupants in case of enemy
properties, the Ordinance also makes some
amendments to the 1971 Act.

The 2016 Ordinance has retrospective effect
from the date of commencement of the 1968 Act. This is to ensure that transfers of enemy property that had taken place before its promulgation are deemed ineffective if they violate its provision. All such properties will continue to vest with the custodian.
For a comparison of the two Ordinances, please see here
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Senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge under Lokayukta scanner for Disproportionate Wealth

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge is under Lokayukta scanner for allegedly possessing property worth Rs 50,000 crore in country’s many cities like Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Goa, Delhi, Mysore, Gulbarga and Chennai. Some of the properties are reportedly in the name of his sons, daughters, son in law and also wife.

B Rathnakar, Generary Secretary of Bengaluru based Samaj Parivarthan Samithi has leveled the allegation against Kharge that he has amassed wealth disproportionate to his known source of income and hence a complaint under Prevention of Corruption Act was filed against him.

Lokayukta’s Raichur wing, Bengaluru is conducting an inquiry into the matter. 

Lokayukta officials tell an online portal that they are looking into the complaint and are conducting a thorough probe of the allegations. The Lokayukta, however added that they are inquiring into the complaint and if the allegations have merit then an FIR would be filed and case registered.

The complaint has several allegations. It accuses of amassing wealth through misuse of his official position. It specifically states that he had made illegal appointments to 1,427 posts of assistant engineers and also junior engineers in a bid to fill the SC backlog vacancies. As the Revenue Minister of state from the year 1980, he has amassed a lot of wealth and while totaling the same it amounts to Rs 50,000 crore worth of property the complaint alleges.

A huge complex in Bannerghatta worth Rs 500 crore, a coffee plantation of 300 acres in Chikmagalur worth Rs 1,000 crore, a house worth Rs 50 crore, a Kengeri farmhouse of 40 acres, a building near the M S Ramaiah college in Bengaluru worth Rs 25 crore, a house in RT Nagar, 17 acre land on Bellary Road, a three-storey building in Indira Nagar, two houses in Sadashivanagar and other properties. Further, he is accused of heading several societies and got grants for them. “He had also lied on oath while filing his election affidavit”, the complaint also states.

Source: http://www.nagpurtoday.in/mallikarjuna-kharge-owns-rs-50000-cr-assets-across-cities-including-nagpur-alleges-plaint/12191422 

Ram Jethmalani slams shameless IBNLive as "Bullshit"

"Who the hell is the press to decide a person is guilty or not ? It will be the saddest day when lawyers decide not to represent a accused person, and pre-decide his guilt. That will be against the spirit of the Rule of Law. The Courts will decide the guilt, not the Press, not the Editor, or any person who runs a Television channel." 

I will not allow the Press to control my life, and my profession. You are nobody to comment. All this bullshit will not convince me at all. My conscience is my conscience, the Court will decide. You are not Judges of this country nor are you the Gods. You are overstepping your limits." 

- the invincible Adv Ram Jethmalani