Deemed Conveyance Now Fully Online for Housing Societies, 70,000 eligible societies stand to benefit in Maharashtra
Deemed Conveyance Now Fully Online for Housing Societies, 70,000 eligible societies stand to benefit in Maharashtra
New digital system aims to streamline housing rights for over 70,000 societies in Maharashtra
In a major step toward digital governance and housing reform, the Maharashtra government has launched the PRATYAY MahaBhumi portal, enabling cooperative housing societies to apply for deemed conveyance entirely online. The portal, part of the state cooperation department’s e-governance initiative, was inaugurated earlier this week by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and is expected to start full operations from Monday.
The new system is designed to eliminate the need for multiple visits to the deputy registrar’s office, allowing housing societies to complete the entire process from application to certification—digitally. Over 70,000 eligible societies stand to benefit from this move.
“All submissions, document verifications, hearing schedules, and final orders will now take place on the portal. Physical documents will no longer be accepted,” said Deepak Taware, Cooperation Commissioner and Registrar, in an official circular.
The process of deemed conveyance is legally mandated to be completed within six months under the new system. While all documentation is digital, the option for offline hearings will remain available when necessary.
Expert from the State Housing Federation, emphasized the importance of the initiative: “Virtual hearings are no longer just a pandemic solution. They are now a core part of accelerating cooperative dispute resolution. This platform supports the broader goal of improving ease of doing business in the cooperative housing sector.”
The move is especially critical for Maharashtra, where 62% of the state’s 1.25 lakh registered housing societies still lack legal ownership of their land. Without deemed conveyance, societies remain dependent on developers or original landowners, restricting essential activities like major repairs, redevelopment, and loan applications.
Deputy Registrar Kiran Sonawane called the portal a “game-changer,” noting that citizens will no longer need to make repeated trips to government offices. “The PRATYAY platform short for Paperless Revision and Appeal in Transparent Way brings speed, transparency, and accessibility to what was once a long and frustrating process.”
All deputy registrars, assistant registrars, and divisional joint registrars have been instructed to process applications solely through the online system. Training sessions are currently underway to support officials and legal professionals in adapting to the new workflow.
Several housing federations have also requested a reduction in the number of mandatory documents currently eight, to further simplify the process.
Originally introduced in 2008 and notified in 2010, the deemed conveyance provision has long struggled with poor uptake due to bureaucratic hurdles. With the launch of PRATYAY MahaBhumi, the state hopes to finally remove these roadblocks and empower housing societies with rightful land ownership and greater autonomy.
