• Legal concern about adjacent non-RERA survey land – risk to apartment purchase?

I am planning to buy an apartment in a RERA-approved residential project in Bangalore. The project has received RERA approval, Occupancy Certificate (OC), and all necessary permissions from BESCOM, the Fire Department, and other relevant authorities.

According to the official RERA registration (ID withheld), the project covers only Survey Nos. xx/1 and xx/2.

However, based on the Tippan sketch, there is an adjoining land parcel—Survey No. xx/3—which borders the project on the southern side. This parcel is not included in the RERA-approved layout and is registered under a private individual ("Mr. X") as per RTC, EC, and Bhoomi records.

The concern:
The owner of Survey No. xx/3 claims they have occupied around half an acre of land and constructed part of an apartment on it remaining land where the apartment constructed well and good. This raises concerns, even though the apartment I am looking to buy falls strictly within xx/1 and xx/2.

The builder is willing to provide a written declaration on the sale agreement confirming that Survey No. xx/3 is not part of the apartment project, and the approved layout does not include, overlap, or encroach upon any portion of xx/3.

My questions:

Is it legally safe to proceed with the purchase if the builder gives this written assurance in sale agreement?

Would such a situation pose any future legal or encroachment risks for apartment owners?

Appreciate any legal guidance or red flags to be aware of in this situation.
Asked 7 months ago in Property Law
Religion: Other

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27 Answers

If he gives such assurances and doesn’t comply then you can file suit under specific relief act against him

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

1. Get the land surveyed by a Government authorised Surveyor instead of obtaining written assurance from the Builder, if you are so sure that there has been encroachment of the Survey No. XX/3.

2.  That can only be foreseen after the documents are checked properly.

3.  Get legal opinion for the property from any Lawyer before proceeding further.

Shashidhar S. Sastry
Advocate, Bangalore
5623 Answers
339 Consultations

You can purchase the flat as project is RERA approved and OC is issued 

 

the assurance of builder that he has not carried put any construction on adjoining plot should protect your interest 

 

Sale deed should have indemnity clause to indemnify you in event of any claims are made 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

1. In that case, you can proceed to purchase, subject to other parameters verified

2.  However this shouldn't be considered as the legal opinion for you to decide about buying the property.

Shashidhar S. Sastry
Advocate, Bangalore
5623 Answers
339 Consultations

 

You can proceed with purchase of flat 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

The apartment you propose to purchase falls within the survey numbers that were approved by RERA and also lay out approval wa obtained, besides the builder has obtained OC also for the constructed flats. This confirms the genuineness of the flat you propose to purchase now.

However in the absence of a proper legal opinion from an experienced lawyer i the local it is not advisable to rush for purchase.

The adjacent land is not coming under the builder's approved layout and moreover the builder is willing to indemnify against any litigation in future, you may proceed after obtaining legal opinion from a lawyer.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

If the builder had got podi done, and also got the property resurveyed through government surveyor, it appears to be safe to purchase the property.

In all the probabilities, it is advisable that you obtain a proper legal opinion from a local lawyer by producing the copies of the papers related to this property and may proceed if recommended.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

Indemnity clause will protect your interests 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

As you have rightly mentioned that, once the builder arranges for resurvey and resultant approval, then you can proceed, along with the indemnity by builder, which has been neatly drafted.

 

 

Shashidhar S. Sastry
Advocate, Bangalore
5623 Answers
339 Consultations

The draft indemnity bond seems to be proper.

You can go ahead as suggested along with this indemnity bond duly signed by the builder, with witnesses and notarised by a notary public, to make it legally enforceable.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

It’s always better to not invest in litigation property else we need to be ready for court proceedings if you are mentally ready for the court proceedings you can go further 

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

Once boundary measurements are done position  would be clear as to whether any encroachment has been done by the builder

 

in any case your flat is on another plot and indemnity clause by builder protects your interests 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

Yes, you are right. It's better to wait for the result so that the matter would be clear to take a decision.

Shashidhar S. Sastry
Advocate, Bangalore
5623 Answers
339 Consultations

This is also considered as a temporary injunction order by a competent authority.

But this is not a permanent solution.

The builder may have to pursue the matter through court if there's no proper result obtained despite this step.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

The land revenue department court has restricted powers, their orders can be challenged either before the appellate tribunal or before high court with a writ petition, provided the opponents justify their grievances in the orders passed by the competent authority.

Whatever, you may have to, with due diligence, exercise abundant precautions viz., the proposed indemnity bond by the builder and any other mode of precautionary measures to ensure your safety to protect or interests

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

The opponents can challenge the impugned order 

 

these are nothing but pressure tactics 

 

no need to bow down to pressure tactics 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

Yes after injunction you may get some clarity 

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

Your caution is well-placed. Since your apartment lies strictly within the RERA-approved Survey Nos. xx/1 and xx/2, and not on the disputed Survey No. xx/3 or xx/5, the risk is limited provided there is no overlap or encroachment, which can be confirmed through the final Hudbust survey and Podi approval. The indemnity clause you suggested is well-drafted and should definitely be included in the sale agreement. It provides added legal protection if boundary or encroachment claims arise later. However, keep in mind that land boundary disputes can go through multiple appeals—from the Assistant Director of Land Records to the Deputy Commissioner, KAT, and High Court—so legal finality may take time. Your safest route is to wait for the official survey confirmation and check that the final measurement maps clearly exclude your flat from the disputed land. If all legal approvals are clean, and indemnity is signed by the developer, you can proceed more confidently.

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2070 Answers
14 Consultations

It should protect your interests 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

The clause proposed to be included appears to be in your best interest and it will certainly protect your title or your interests in the property in any manner hence you may proceed accordingly.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

Yes, the indemnity and warranty clauses you've shared offer legal protection, but final safety depends on:

  1. Clear Hudbust and Podi approval confirming no encroachment on xx/3 or xx/5.

  2. RERA-approved flat location strictly within xx/1 and xx/2.

  3. No ongoing or likely future litigation overlapping your apartment plot.

Wait for final survey results and ensure all clauses are part of your registered sale agreement. Proceed only if everything is legally clean.

 

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2070 Answers
14 Consultations

If above clauses and indemnity is there it will protect you

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

The surveyor cannot keep postponing the survey tasks jsut because the respondent is not available, he should give a notice for the next date and strictly inform that the survey will be carried out in his absence if he is not present during the next date. 

Since you keep repeating the same question despite getting proper replies to your earlier questions, it would be better that you follow the instructions of the lawyer who gave you the legal opinion, because he would be the better person to give any recommendation for purchase of the proeprty based on the scrutinisation of all relevant papers pertaining to the property.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

You can proceed as all documents have been verified by lawyer and builder has included indemnity clause in agreement 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

Since your flat is within RERA-approved land (xx/1 & xx/2), builder gave indemnity, SBI cleared loan, and your lawyer verified all documents — you can proceed.
Pending survey is about adjoining land, not your flat.
Ensure all indemnity clauses are included in the registered sale deed for full protection.

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2070 Answers
14 Consultations

After following earlier advices you can take your call 

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

The delay suggests Mr. X may be uncooperative or contesting the boundary, increasing the risk of future disputes. This is a red flag, as unresolved boundary issues could lead to litigation affecting the project’s stability.

Investigate whether Mr. X is deliberately delaying the survey or has raised objections. Check with the builder or revenue authorities if Mr. X has filed any claims or complaints regarding xx/3. This can be done via the Bhoomi portal or by requesting records from the local Sub-Registrar’s office.


If the delay affects the project’s timeline or raises doubts about compliance, file a query with the Karnataka RERA authority. Under Section 35 of the RERA Act, you can seek clarification on the project’s status and request intervention to expedite the survey.

Gaurav Ahuja
Advocate, Faridabad
136 Answers

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