Who will be the new RERA Chairman?

Jaipur: The post of Chairman of Rajasthan Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) will become vacant on April 19 as its current Chairman - NC Goel - is all set to retire on the completion of sixty-five years of age. Former Chief Secretary Goel was appointed as Chairman on April 23, 2019, as the first Chairman of RERA.

Now a million-dollar question has arisen in the political and administrative circles of the state as to who will come at helm of this important post in the state. Over the past five years, RERA has extended its grip in the real estate and property sector of the state to such an extent that this authority has made its own separate place in the administration as well. As of today, 2500 projects are registered with RERA and more than five thousand agents are registered with the Authority.

The post of Chairman is a ‘selection post’ and applications will be invited for it. Then a high power committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of High Court, in which Principal Secretary UDH and Secretary Law are members, selects the best candidate for the job. Chairman’s tenure is of five years or 65 years of age and an official of the seniority of Additional Secretary in the Government of India or a technocrat is eligible for the post.

The names that are being reportedly considered for the job are retired IAS R. Venkateswaran and PK Goyal. Notably, PK Goyal retired recently on January 31 and has served as Commissioner of the Housing Board, Secretary LSG, and Additional Chief Secretary UDH. Prior to NC Goel, he served as RERA Chairman for some time.

According to highly placed sources, the state government has not taken any decision on who will be the new Chairman and on April 19 itself, the new Chairman can be appointed. It seems that for the time being, its additional charge can be given to Principal Secretary UDH or any RERA member. It is also being said that the government will wait till June 30 after this, a retired senior IAS would be put at the helm of the post.