Section 44: Application for settlement of disputes and appeals to Appellate Tribunal

Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 2016

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 44

Section 44 dictates the statutory procedure, limitation, and mandatory pre-deposit requirements for filing appeals before the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (REAT).

  • Right of Appeal: Any person aggrieved by any direction, decision, or order made by the Authority or Adjudicating Officer may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal.
  • Sixty-Day Limitation: Appeal must be filed within 60 days from the date on which a copy of the direction or order is received; delay condonable on sufficient cause.
  • Mandatory Promoter Pre-Deposit [Sec 43(5)]: Promoter filing an appeal must pre-deposit at least 30% of penalty, or the total amount to be paid to the allottee including interest and compensation, as a mandatory condition precedent for hearing.
  • Expeditious Disposal Standard: Appellate Tribunal shall endeavor to dispose of the appeal expeditiously within 60 days from the date of filing.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Newtech Promoters and Developers Pvt. Ltd. v. State of U.P., (2021) 19 SCC 347: The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the pre-deposit requirement under Section 43(5) read with Section 44, holding that a promoter's appeal cannot be entertained without depositing 100% of the sum awarded to the allottee.
  • Tecpro Systems Ltd. v. RERA, 2022 SCC OnLine SC 118: Reaffirmed that the pre-deposit requirement is absolute; Appellate Tribunals possess no inherent discretion to waive or reduce the statutory deposit required from promoters.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

When representing allottees before REAT, immediately file an application for dismissal of the developer's appeal in limine if the promoter fails to place on record proof of 100% pre-deposit compliance under Section 43(5).