The Bombay High Court has taken a decisive step toward fairer access to justice by directing MahaRERA to Resume Hybrid Hearings within four weeks. This landmark order marks a major shift in how litigants will be able to approach the real estate regulator moving forward.
What Happened?
For months, MahaRERA had conducted hearings exclusively online—even as most courts across India returned to hybrid formats post-pandemic. This sparked frustration among litigants and legal professionals alike.
Eventually, a public interest litigation filed by Mayur Desai brought the issue to light. He raised multiple concerns:
- Lack of an option for physical hearings
- Delays in executing favorable orders
- No clear way to request urgent hearings
- Poor visibility of order publication and cause lists
The High Court, acknowledging these serious procedural gaps, stepped in with clear and time-bound directives.
What Did the Court Say?
The Bombay High Court ruled that MahaRERA must allow both virtual and physical hearings, based on each party’s preference. This move aligns MahaRERA’s functioning with broader legal norms seen in Indian courts today.
In its strong judgment, the Court said denying physical hearings by default was not only unjust but also unconstitutional. Therefore, it instructed MahaRERA to:
- Restore MahaRERA hybrid hearings system-wide
- Revisit its April 2025 SOP and hearing policies
- Ensure every litigant can choose their mode of appearance
- Maintain clear cause lists, urgent hearing registers, and transparent communication
- Upload orders with timestamps and mention next hearing dates
These changes must be completed within four weeks. A status report is due by September 4, 2025.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a technical tweak—it’s about access to justice. Many homebuyers, developers, and advocates rely on MahaRERA. By restoring MahaRERA hybrid hearings, the Court ensures faster redressal, greater transparency, and wider participation.
Moreover, this order puts pressure on other regulatory bodies to follow suit and adopt more citizen-friendly processes. Clearly, justice must not only be delivered—it must be accessible.
What’s Next?
MahaRERA must act swiftly to comply. Meanwhile, stakeholders should stay alert for updates, especially as the compliance deadline approaches. We’ll continue tracking this development closely.
