BHUBANESWAR: The state govt has initiated the process to appoint a new member (administration) in the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA), more than two months after the post fell vacant following the premature exit of the incumbent, who was appointed only about a year earlier.
The development comes at a crucial time for ORERA, with the chairperson’s post in the Odisha Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (OREAT) also lying vacant since May. Stakeholders fear that prolonged vacancies in key positions could affect the pace of hearings and disposal of disputes involving homebuyers, developers and real estate projects.
The member (administration) is one of the three positions that constitute the ORERA bench responsible for hearing and deciding matters related to real estate projects, registration issues, consumer grievances and regulatory compliance under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
Official sources said the state govt has begun the selection process to fill the vacancy and restore the authority’s full strength. The move assumes significance as ORERA continues to deal with a large volume of complaints from homebuyers and applications from developers across the state.
“Timely appointments are essential to ensure continuity in the functioning of the regulator. Both ORERA and OREAT play a critical role in protecting consumer interests and maintaining confidence in the real estate sector,” said Bimalendu Pradhan, a real estate law expert.
A homebuyer associated with an apartment owners’ group said delays in filling vacancies often create uncertainty among consumers. “Thousands of buyers depend on ORERA and OREAT for relief. The institutions must function at full strength so that cases are heard and decided without unnecessary delays,” Narayan Hota, the member, said.
The vacancies have once again brought into focus the recurring staffing challenges faced by the regulatory institution. A similar situation emerged last year when all members of ORERA either retired or resigned almost simultaneously, leading to concerns over the regulator’s ability to function effectively until new appointments were made.
With the tribunal’s chairperson post also vacant, several stakeholders have urged the govt to complete the appointment process expeditiously to ensure that both the regulator and the appellate body remain fully operational. “The regulatory should be given full autonomy, but the opposite is happening here,” Pradhan added.
