Homebuyers and Developers Can Now Opt for Physical or Virtual Hearings as MahaRERA Adopts a Hybrid Model

The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has taken a significant step towards making dispute resolution more accessible and transparent. Responding to the Bombay High Court’s directive in July 2025, MahaRERA adopts a hybrid model, allowing litigants to choose between physical and virtual hearings.

This change is expected to benefit thousands of homebuyers, developers, and housing societies across Maharashtra who have long sought flexibility in presenting their cases. By introducing this system, MahaRERA not only complies with judicial directions but also sets the stage for a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient real estate regulatory process.

Why a Hybrid Model Was Needed

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, all MahaRERA hearings were conducted physically at designated venues. With the onset of the pandemic, however, the Authority swiftly shifted to virtual hearings to ensure continuity. While this digital format helped maintain operations during restrictions, many stakeholders began feeling constrained by the lack of physical hearings once normalcy returned.

Concerns mounted around transparency, fairness, and procedural clarity. Several litigants argued that a virtual-only hearing system restricted participation and left room for systemic opacity. These issues culminated in a petition filed by a Mumbai resident, which eventually pushed the Bombay High Court to intervene.

In July 2025, the Court directed MahaRERA to adopt a hybrid mechanism, ensuring both physical and virtual options are available. This decision underscored the need for balance convenience from online hearings combined with the transparency of in-person proceedings.

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Key Highlights of MahaRERA’s New Circular

In compliance with the Court’s directive, MahaRERA issued a circular on August 11, 2025, formally introducing the hybrid hearing mechanism. Here are the major takeaways:

• Dual Options for Litigants: Societies, homebuyers, and developers can now choose either physical or virtual hearings for complaints and non-compliance applications.
• Online Filing Continues: All complaints and applications must still be filed online through the MahaRERA portal.
• Option to Request Physical Hearings: Litigants opting for physical hearings must submit a written request through their login credentials.
• Updated Cause List: The daily cause list will now include seating arrangements for benches conducting physical hearings.
• Digitized Orders: Every order will be uploaded online with timestamps, ensuring transparency and easy access.

With these measures, MahaRERA has set up a structured, accountable system that combines the best of both formats.

How Homebuyers Can Opt for Physical Hearings

For homebuyers, the process is simple yet structured. Anyone filing a complaint can log in to the MahaRERA portal, submit the details, and select the option for a physical hearing. However, the request must be made in writing through the portal, ensuring a transparent digital record of the preference.

This system empowers buyers who feel more comfortable presenting their case in person. For many, especially those who have faced delays in possession or non-compliance issues, the ability to physically appear before the bench restores confidence in the process.

Practical benefits include:

• Clarity: Litigants can directly interact with officials and developers.
• Flexibility: Choice between physical presence or virtual convenience.
• Transparency: Clear documentation of requests and outcomes.

Insights from the Bombay High Court Case

The move towards a hybrid model finds its roots in a case filed by Mumbai resident Mayur Desai. He challenged the continued absence of physical hearings after the pandemic, highlighting procedural restrictions and lack of structured guidelines in MahaRERA’s functioning.

The Bombay High Court acknowledged that while the virtual hearing system served its purpose during COVID-19, its prolonged continuation was unfair. The Court observed that restricting litigants to online-only hearings was “procedurally restrictive and systemically opaque.”

Consequently, the Court ordered MahaRERA to restore physical hearings while retaining the virtual format, ensuring a balanced mechanism.

Industry Reactions and Stakeholder Perspective

A senior MahaRERA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that physical hearings were occasionally allowed even before the official order. However, most parties had opted for virtual hearings as they found them more convenient and cost-effective.

The introduction of a structured hybrid model is now expected to benefit stakeholders who prefer in-person hearings, such as societies or buyers facing complex disputes. Developers and legal representatives, on the other hand, may continue choosing the virtual route for efficiency.

Overall, the new system enhances accessibility for everyone involved, giving both buyers and developers a fair chance to present their case in the format they prefer.

The Bigger Picture: Pending Complaints in Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s real estate sector has long grappled with delays and disputes. As of June 2025:

• MahaRERA has addressed 29,374 complaints across 5,508 projects.
• Out of these, 3,473 projects were ongoing before MahaRERA was launched in 2017, while 2,035 projects were registered afterward.

These numbers underline the massive workload the Authority handles. By adopting a hybrid model, MahaRERA aims to clear pending cases faster while ensuring fairness. This shift could potentially accelerate resolutions and reduce backlog, bringing long-awaited relief to stakeholders.

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What This Means for Homebuyers and Developers

The introduction of hybrid hearings carries several important implications:

• Choice and Flexibility: Litigants can now select the hearing mode best suited to their circumstances.
• Greater Confidence: The system fosters trust by ensuring both transparency and convenience.
• Faster Resolutions: Hybrid hearings could reduce delays caused by scheduling conflicts.
• Fairness in Dispute Resolution: Physical hearings allow complex cases to be discussed thoroughly, while virtual hearings continue to support quick and accessible processes.

For developers, the change reduces travel and scheduling burdens while still offering the option to engage physically if needed. For homebuyers, especially those dealing with sensitive disputes, in-person hearings restore a sense of procedural fairness.

Conclusion

By introducing hybrid hearings, MahaRERA adopts a hybrid model that bridges the gap between virtual convenience and physical transparency. The Bombay High Court’s intervention has led to a more inclusive system, giving litigants the freedom to choose how they present their cases.

With tens of thousands of real estate disputes pending across Maharashtra, this step could prove crucial in speeding up resolutions and restoring faith in the regulatory framework. Ultimately, the move reflects a broader shift towards flexibility, fairness, and accessibility str,engthening trust between homebuyers, developers, and the real estate watchdog.

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