NEW DELHI: Cooperative housing societies in Noida were dealt a major blow on Wednesday when Supreme Court ordered individual registration of their flats as per the prevailing circle rates. According to the Uttar Pradesh stamp department, the judgement would affect around 15,000 flat owners and leave the government richer by roughly INR 100 crore.

A special bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and HS Bedi passed the direction while dismissing applications byArmy Welfare Housing Organisation and others challenging the Noida Authority’s decision to recover stamp duty on the basis of current rates. According to counsel Abha Sharma appearing for several flat owners, the decision would cause a liability ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh in stamp duty, which was the original cost of construction of houses in 1992. The high registration fees are a result of the real estate boom of the last decade. For instance, a three-bedroom flat in Noida that cost Rs 11 lakh just 10 years ago now costs at least Rs 60 lakh.

Shaken by the order, the affected societies on Wednesday said they would appeal to the court to review its decision.