Human Right To Adequate Housing And Its Realization Under The Real Estate (Regulation And Development) Act, 2016
- IJLLR Journal
- Oct 19
- 1 min read
Priyanka Devi, Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Laws, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
ABSTRACT
Housing is not merely a physical shelter but a cornerstone of human dignity and development. Recognized as a component of the right to life, the right to adequate housing forms an essential part of human rights jurisprudence both internationally and nationally. Despite constitutional and legal recognition, millions continue to live in sub-standard or insecure dwellings. This paper examines the legal foundations of the human right to adequate housing and analyses how this right is realized through the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA). It discusses relevant international instruments, constitutional provisions, and judicial pronouncements establishing housing as a fundamental right. Further, it explores the role of RERA, particularly the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HP-RERA), in ensuring transparency and accountability in the real estate sector. The paper concludes by identifying key challenges and proposing measures to strengthen RERA’s function as an instrument for the fulfillment of India’s human rights obligations relating to housing.
Keywords: Adequate Housing; Human Rights; RERA; Himachal Pradesh; Right to Shelter.
