Archive · 22 Dec 2025
Expert Calls for MOFA Amendment Reversal
The Maharashtra government recently changed a law called MOFA to help housing societies get ownership of their buildings.
However, Advocate Shirish V Deshpande, who leads a group called Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP), says this change is bad for homebuyers.
He explains that the new law removes punishments for big builders who cheat or commit fraud.
This means big builders can get away with bad actions, while smaller builders still face consequences.
MGP believes this change protects builders and hurts homebuyers, and they are fighting to have the law changed back.
The Maharashtra government amended MOFA to allow deemed conveyance for MahaRERA-registered projects.
Advocate Shirish V Deshpande of MGP criticizes the amendment, stating it is unnecessary and harmful to homebuyers.
The amendment removes criminal liabilities for fraud and cheating for large MahaRERA-registered builders.
The amendment applies retroactively from May 1, 2016, condoning past offenses by builders.
MGP argues the amendment benefits builders and exposes a nexus between builders, politicians, and bureaucracy.
- Who
- Advocate Shirish V Deshpande, Chairman of Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP).
- What
- Criticism of the Maharashtra government's amendment to the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act (MOFA).
- When
- The amendment was passed recently by the state legislature.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India.
- Why
- The amendment is seen as benefiting builders by removing criminal liabilities for fraud and cheating, while MGP argues it harms homebuyers.
- MOFA Amendment
- Amendment to the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act (MOFA) to allow deemed conveyance for MahaRERA-registered projects.
- MahaRERA
- Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
- Deemed Conveyance
- Legal process to transfer ownership of a property from the developer to the society of flat owners.
- MOFA Sections Removed
- Sections 13(1)-(6) of MOFA, which provide for imprisonment and disqualification of builders for offenses like fraud and cheating.
- Retrospective Effect
- Amendment applies retroactively from May 1, 2016.
- Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP)
- Consumer rights organization opposing the MOFA amendment.
- Advocate Shirish V Deshpande
- Chairman of MGP and critic of the MOFA amendment.