Builder told to refund money, pay Rs 25K relief

Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 14

Failure to complete the housing project within the promised time cost dear to a builder. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Mohali, has ordered the builder to refund money and pay Rs 25,000 as compensation to a Chandigarh-based complainant here.

The forum ordered the opposite party, BCL Homes, to refund an amount of Rs 3 lakh along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of filing of complaint (February 7, 2017) till payment. The builder has also been told to pay Rs 20,000 compensation for mental agony and harassment and Rs 5,000 litigation expenses to complainant Kiran Sharma, a Chandigarh resident.

The complainant alleged that she was allured through advertisements of the opposite party in different sections of media in which they had assured that they would complete the housing project at the earliest. The complainant alleged that she agreed to purchase three units at Rs 13 lakh per flat and gave an amount of Rs 3 lakh to the opposite party through two cheques in 2012. As the complainant found that the construction work did not begin at the site despite her repeated visits, she approached the forum for justice.

The opposite party pleaded that the complaint was false and misconceived and had been filed for harassing and humiliating them only.

However, the forum ordered the opposite party to refund the amount along with interest and compensation and cost of litigation to the complainant within 30 days from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the order.