Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 21 -- The Kerala Registration Department has directed that apartment owners' associations formed for the management and maintenance of common areas should function under the Kerala Apartment Ownership Act, 1983, rather than being governed by the general law applicable to societies.

The position was communicated by the Deputy Inspector General of Registration (Licensing) in connection with a complaint concerning the Heather Ferns Apartment Owners Association near Sainik School at Kazhakkoottam here.

The department's stand could have wider implications for apartment complexes across Kerala, as a large number of apartment associations are understood to have been registered under general society registration laws des...