Section 2. Definitions.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 1[(a) "Competent Authority" means a Competent Authority appointed under section 5A;] 2[(a-1) "Flat" means a separate and self-contained set of premises used or intended to be used for residence, or office, show-room or shop or godown 3[or for carrying on any industry or business] (and includes a garage), the premises forming part of a building 4[and includes an apartment.] Explanation.- Notwithstanding that provisions is made for sanitary, washing, bathing or other convenience as common to two or more sets of premises, the premises shall be deemed to be separate and self-contained; (b) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (c) 5["promoter" means a person and includes a partnership firm or a body or association of persons whether registered or not] who constructs or causes to be constructed a block or building of flats 6[or apartments] for the purpose of selling some or all of them to other persons, or to a company, co-operative society or other association of persons, and includes his assignees; and where the person who builds and the person who sells are different persons, the term includes both; (d) "Registrar" means the Registrar as defined in the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (Mah. XXIV of 1961), or, as the case may be, in the 7Companies Act, 1956 (I of 1956); (e) "to construct a block or building of flats 8[or apartments]" includes to convert a building or part thereof into flats 9[or apartments]; 10[(f) the expressions, "apartment" and "apartment owner" shall have the meanings, respectively assigned to them in the Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act, 1970 (Mah. XV of 1971).]