SC to Resume Amrapali Group Hearings in July; New Bench to Be Constituted

The Supreme Court has listed a set of petitions, including those filed by homebuyers against the Amrapali Group, for hearing in July. The matter will now be taken up by a new bench constituted by the Chief Justice of India. The current bench, comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma, observed that it had tried to resolve some issues but the case could not be allowed to continue indefinitely.

Justice Trivedi is set to retire on June 9, during the court’s summer break. She noted that she had been dealing with the case since assuming office and attempted to address key concerns, but acknowledged that effective disposal would require further engagement from all parties. Justice Sharma will remain on the bench and continue with the proceedings.

The Amrapali case has been pending before the apex court since 2017 and involves multiple issues, including delays in delivery of flats, misappropriation of funds by the former management, and concerns raised by thousands of homebuyers. In its July 2019 verdict, the Supreme Court had cancelled the registration of the Amrapali Group under RERA and directed the NBCC (National Buildings Construction Corporation) to take over and complete the stalled housing projects.

Advocate M L Lahoty, appearing for the homebuyers, pointed out that several directions from the 2019 judgment—especially regarding recovery of money from the former promoters and key officials of the Amrapali Group—have yet to be acted upon. He urged the court not to leave these aspects unresolved, as they were critical to delivering complete justice to the affected homebuyers.

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, also appearing for a group of homebuyers, recommended the appointment of an amicus curiae to assist the court with remaining issues, particularly given the financial and administrative complexities still pending.

The bench recorded submissions made by Lahoty and Attorney General R Venkataramani, who was appointed as a court receiver in 2019 to oversee the recovery and disbursement of funds. Reports submitted by the NBCC, Greater Noida Authority, and Noida Authority were also taken on record. These reports outline the current status of the ongoing construction and handover process.

In an earlier hearing on March 7, the court had stated that the case could not go on indefinitely and sought a compliance report on its previous directions. It noted that “substantial” compliance had been achieved, with the NBCC reporting the completion of nearly 25,000 flats, providing relief to many homebuyers who had been waiting for possession for years.

Despite progress in construction, unresolved issues such as fund recovery, compensation, and accountability of former directors remain. These will be central to the new hearings scheduled in July. The case continues to be one of the most prominent legal battles in India's real estate sector, highlighting the systemic challenges faced by homebuyers and the need for judicial intervention.

Image source-scobserver.in