India, Nov. 15 -- The Forum for People's Collective Efforts (FPCE), a national homebuyers' body, has proposed a series of reforms to strengthen consumer protection in the real estate sector. Its key recommendations include setting up a National Appellate Tribunal for Real Estate (NATRE) in Delhi, on the lines of the NCLT and NGT, replacing state-level appellate tribunals, making Agreements for Sale legally binding under RERA and introducing a statutory exit mechanism for homebuyers.

Making a case for the exit provision, FPCE said, 'A developer in distress may approach the National Company Law Tribunal; a family in distress has nowhere to go.

The proposals were submitted to officials of the Cabinet Secretariat during a meeting on Novembe...