Gujarat Plans Bill to Regulate Housing Societies

The Gujarat government is gearing up to present a bill in the upcoming legislative assembly session aimed at enhancing the governance and functionality of housing societies in the state. This proposed law intends to provide comprehensive guidelines addressing a variety of issues and disputes associated with housing societies. Currently, residential societies in Gujarat are governed by guidelines set forth by the Registrar of Cooperatives. However, the existing framework often leads to disputes among members. The forthcoming legislation is expected to encompass critical aspects such as governance, election procedures, committee member appointments, resolution of disputes related to the sale of residential units, auditing of society accounts, and compliance with government regulations on fire safety and drainage, among others. Government sources have revealed that a draft of the proposed legislation is currently under preparation, and input is being sought from relevant government departments overseeing housing societies. It is anticipated that the bill will be presented during the forthcoming budget session of the legislative assembly. In a significant development, the legislation is also likely to establish an authority tasked with handling housing society-related issues. This initiative recognises that the operational dynamics of housing societies differ from agricultural or other cooperative societies. The proposed authority will play a crucial role in streamlining the functioning of housing societies, addressing challenges, and ensuring compliance with regulations.