Bengaluru Homebuyers taps KHRC to take action over 'Unenforced RERA Penalty'

Frustrated by the revenue department's alleged inaction in collecting a penalty imposed on a builder by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), distressed homebuyers have turned to the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHC) for help.

A homebuyer has appealed to the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) to instruct the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bengaluru Urban to speed up the collection of a penalty imposed on a builder by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for failing to deliver a flat on time.

The state human rights commission has directed the District Collector to take appropriate action and submit a report by January 10. The penalty, ordered two years ago, remains uncollected.

Sudhakar Lakshmanaraja, the homebuyer, informed Bengaluru Mirror that he is owed approximately Rs. 40 lakhs in compensation from the builder. “I am waiting for the revenue authorities to collect the penalty as per the Karnataka RERA directive,” he said.

In his letter to the Human Rights Commission, Lakshmanaraja expressed the severe mental and financial distress caused by the delay in the possession of his apartment (B1606, Mantri Manyata Energia). He had booked the apartment in 2018, with an expected delivery in 2019.

Despite receiving favorable compensation orders from Karnataka RERA, the case has been stalled at the Bengaluru DC's office for the past two years.

He further accused the builder of openly ignoring legal and administrative orders, taking advantage of systemic flaws, and undermining the rule of law at every turn. Additionally, he expressed that the lack of action from government officials has only worsened their ordeal, trapping them in an ongoing cycle of frustration and despair.