UP Govt to Hold RWA Elections in NCR Housing Societies

• Government compiling list of societies where RWA elections are overdue

• More than 1,000 RWAs operate across Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad

• District administration likely to supervise polls for transparency

The Uttar Pradesh government has started the process of identifying housing societies across the NCR where Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Apartment Owners Associations (AOAs) have remained in power beyond their permitted tenure. Authorities say elections will soon be conducted in such societies under official supervision.

Officials from the firms, societies and chits department confirmed that a list of societies with delayed elections is currently being prepared. Once finalized, the administration will initiate the election process to restore proper governance and ensure residents get fair representation.

The move follows numerous complaints from residents across Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad, where several RWAs allegedly continued in office for years without holding elections.

Under existing rules, office-bearers of an Apartment Owners Association can typically serve for a fixed tenure of two consecutive years. However, in several societies, elections were reportedly postponed repeatedly, allowing the same governing bodies to remain in control for much longer periods.

Officials say the government’s intervention aims to bring back democratic functioning and accountability within these residential associations.

With rapid urban expansion in the National Capital Region, the number of gated residential complexes has increased significantly in recent years. Authorities estimate that over 1,000 registered RWAs and AOAs currently operate across Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad.

These associations play a crucial role in managing everyday affairs within housing societies, including:

• Maintenance of common areas

• Security arrangements and civic services

• Management of community facilities and events

Because RWAs also handle financial matters and administrative decisions, delays in elections often lead to disputes among residents.

Officials say delayed elections are not limited to a few housing complexes but have been reported in multiple residential areas.

For instance, residents reported that elections in Supertech Capetown were conducted only after a gap of five years. In Gaur Homes and the Beta-2 sector, polls were reportedly held after delays exceeding seven years. Meanwhile, residents of Alpha-1 sector recently raised concerns that elections had not taken place for nearly 15 years.

Resident groups claim that whenever elections are due, internal disagreements or resistance from existing office-bearers often leads to further delays.

Under the Uttar Pradesh Apartment Act and the Societies Registration Act, district authorities can intervene if elections are repeatedly postponed or disputes arise within RWAs.

Officials indicated that once the list of societies with overdue elections is finalized, the administration may directly supervise the polling process. Independent observers could also be appointed to ensure fairness and transparency during the elections.

The current initiative follows a district-level audit conducted last year to build a comprehensive database of housing societies in Noida and Greater Noida.

During the audit, authorities collected key information such as:

• Names of current governing bodies

• Dates when the last elections were held

• Duration of their tenure

Societies found to have exceeded the permitted tenure were instructed to begin the election process immediately.

Officials believe that conducting regular elections will reduce internal disputes and improve governance within residential complexes.

With thousands of families depending on RWAs for day-to-day civic management, authorities say timely elections and leadership changes are essential for maintaining transparency, accountability, and democratic functioning in NCR housing societies.

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