SC Stays MP Govt Inquiry Against RERA Chief Over Procedural Lapses

Shrivastava, a retired IAS officer filed a petition claiming the inquiry was unlawfully initiated with political motives

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the inquiry initiated against Ajeet Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the Madhya Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MP RERA), citing potential procedural lapses and political interference. Issuing notice to the Madhya Pradesh government and other respondents, the court directed that the inquiry shall remain stayed until April 2, 2025.

The writ petition under Article 32 was filed by Shrivastava, a retired IAS officer who previously served as the Additional Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, challenging the legality of the inquiry proceedings purportedly initiated under Section 26 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA Act) read with Rule 35 of the MP RERA Rules, 2017. The petition, argued by advocate Siddharth Radhelal Gupta—an alumnus of National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal—contends that the inquiry was unlawfully triggered by a directive from the Secretariat of the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, bypassing the statutory process mandated by law.