JIT pays Rs2.7 lakh as interest to allottee

JALANDHAR: A ray of hope has brightened up for allottees of LIG flats of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) after the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum had asked JIT to pay 9 per cent interest of the total amount received by the trust to an allottee for making delay in handing over the possession at the Bibi Bhani Complex here.

Bibi Bhani Complex in Jalandhar. A Tribune Photograph

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, February 13

A ray of hope has brightened up for allottees of LIG flats of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) after the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum had asked JIT to pay 9 per cent interest of the total amount received by the trust to an allottee for making delay in handing over the possession at the Bibi Bhani Complex here.

The forum, after verifying facts, gave judgment to one of the complainants Vinay Kumar, a resident of Amritsar, last month, telling JIT to pay 9 per cent interest of the amount. The JIT has now paid an amount of Rs 2,77,382 through cheque as interest for approximately six years to Vinay for having failed to provide possession on time.

Talking to Jalandhar Tribune, Vinay said: “I paid my amount for the flat in 2011 and was expecting to receive possession in 2012. But the JIT could not provide possession to me. I was allotted flat No. 10, which does not even exist. Also, the condition of the other flats was not satisfying and up to the mark as was promised. Several allottees, including me, refused to take the possession then and asked for refund”.

“After that I filed the case with the forum against JIT which I had won recently. I had also received the cheque of the amount from the JIT but my possession is still left as JIT has said the construction of my flat is underway,” he said.

President of the Bibi Bhani Residential Welfare Association Darshan Singh Ahuja said: “After Vinay received the amount, we are hoping that JIT will either provide the flats in good condition or will make the refund to rest of the aggrieved allottees too. As other allottees have also filed cases with the forum here seeking justice so after this positive judgment we had full trust on the law and will win other pending cases too hopefully,” he said.

Executive Officer (EO), Jalandhar Improvement Trust, Rajesh Chaudhary said: “The details of the refund or penalty paid to the allottees lies with our officials dealing with legal matter. Many allottees had filed cases for the refund. We are hoping to clear the files soon and the department is dealing with the case appropriately on its part.”

What complainant says

Vinay Kumar, a complainant, said: “I paid my amount for the flat in 2011 and was expecting to receive possession in 2012. But the JIT could not provide possession to me. I was allotted flat No. 10, which does not even exist. Also, the condition of the other flat was not satisfying and up to the mark as was promised. Several allottees, including me, refused to take the possession then and asked for refund”.