Delay in Approvals Not Force Majeure | Builder Ordered to Pay Interest

In a major relief to homebuyers, the Maharashtra Real Estate Appellate Tribunal has ruled that delays in obtaining statutory approvals and regulatory clearances cannot be treated as force majeure under RERA. Case Details: Allottee: Mr. Nimish B. Desai Promoter: Rare Townships Private Limited Project: Rising City – North Sea Heights, Ghatkopar (East), Mumbai Complaint No.: CC006000000198190 Appeals: AT006000000235101/2024 (Allottee) & AT06/00573/2025 (Promoter) Judgment Date: 21 July 2026 Reserved On: 15 June 2026 Bench: Shri S. S. Shinde (Chairperson) & Dr. Rajagopal Devara (Member A) The Tribunal modified the earlier MahaRERA order dated 24 November 2023 and directed the promoter to pay interest on the amounts paid by the allottee from 1 January 2019 till actual possession at SBI highest MCLR + 2%. The promoter’s force majeure plea (height clearance stay, DCPR 2034, environmental clearances, NGT restrictions and COVID-19) was rejected. Watch the full analysis of this important judgment that reinforces homebuyer rights under Section 18 of RERA. Keywords: MahaRERA, Real Estate Appellate Tribunal, Rare Townships, Rising City North Sea Heights, force majeure, delayed possession, Section 18 RERA, interest on delay, Ghatkopar, homebuyer rights, RERA judgment, Mumbai real estate, Nimish Desai Hashtags: #MahaRERA #RERA #ForceMajeure #HomebuyerRights #RealEstate #MumbaiRealEstate #DelayedPossession #RERAJudgment #RareTownships #RisingCity #PropertyLaw #HousingRights