Bill proposes to amend RERA Act, redefine selection panel, eligibility

Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani introduced the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Himachal Pradesh Amendment Bill, 2025, during the ongoing winter session of the Vidhan Sabha on Monday.

Proposing key amendments to the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), 2016, the Bill, if passed, will restructure the eligibility norms and selection process for the posts of chairperson and members of the authority.

According to the draft amendments, the chairperson and members will be appointed by the state government, based on the recommendations of a three-member selection committee, comprising the Chief Secretary as chairperson, the Housing Department Secretary as member-convener and the Law Secretary as member.

The provisions specify that if the Chief Secretary is an applicant or is unable to serve on the selection committee due to a conflict of interest, the state may nominate an Additional Chief Secretary or another Secretary-rank officer with substantial administrative experience to chair the panel.

The proposed criteria mandate that the chairperson must have at least 20 years of professional experience, while members must have a minimum of 15 years of experience in sectors such as urban development, housing, real estate, infrastructure, economics, law, commerce, accountancy, management, public affairs or administration.

Further, officers who are serving or have previously served in the state government can be appointed to the post of chairperson only if they have held the post of Additional Secretary or an equivalent position in the Centre or state government, while committee members should have held secretary-level posts.

Another proposed amendment substitutes Section 23 of the Act to fix the tenure of the committee chairperson and members at four years from the date they assume office.

Presently, a three-member committee, headed by Chief Justice of the High Court or his nominee, the Secretary of the Housing Department, and the Law Secretary selects the Chairman and Members of the real estate regulatory authority.