The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the Noida authority to ensure the registration of apartments in the Sports City housing projects within two weeks, responding to longstanding grievances of home-buyers. Additionally, the court ordered investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged irregularities by officials and realtors involved in the project.
The ruling, delivered by a bench consisting of Justice Prashant Kumar and Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, came as a significant relief to around 30,000 apartment owners affected by a ban on registries, map approvals, and occupancy certificates that was imposed in January 2021. This ban was instituted after it was discovered that developers had prioritized residential constructions over the mandated development of world-class sports facilities on 70% of the allotted land.
The case was originally brought to the court by Gaursons Group in 2019, seeking the issuance of an occupancy certificate and permission for the execution of registry transfers to home-buyers. According to the court’s order, the Noida authority is to grant occupancy certificates expeditiously once the developers fulfill their obligations regarding sports facilities, either by developing them or compensating the authority accordingly.
The dispute centers on the Sports City scheme in sectors 78, 79, and 150 of Noida, where developers were supposed to create an integrated sports complex but instead largely developed residential units. This deviation from the project’s original plan led to widespread discontent among home-buyers and a series of legal challenges.
In light of the violations and the subsequent legal battles, the high court’s decision also includes a directive for the Noida authority to arrange for the certified copies of the orders to ensure compliance with the law. Noida authority CEO Lokesh M confirmed that they are working on obtaining these documents.
The high court has also taken a stern approach towards the alleged mismanagement and corruption within the Sports City project by ordering a comprehensive investigation by national agencies. The inquiry will look into the roles of builders, consortium members, and Noida authority officials, who are accused of siphoning off funds meant for the development of sports facilities.
