Five more allottees win cases against Improvement Trust

Avneet Kaur
Jalandhar, March 15

The failure of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) in handing over the possession of LIG flats to allottees of the Bibi Bhani Complex has cost it dear. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum while addressing five similar complaints has ordered the Trust to refund the money with 12 per cent interest and Rs 35,000 as compensation and litigation expenses in each case.

The five complainants are Banwari Lal Khanna, Raj Kumar, Kamal Dev, Navtej Singh Chahal and Sukhdev Singh. In their complaints, theysaid they were allotted LIG flats in the Vikas Scheme 51.5 Acre, Bibi Bhani Complex, Guru Amar Dass Nagar, on August 8, 2009, through a lucky draw at the Red Cross Bhawan. They were promised two-storeyed apartment equipped with all basic facilities and good quality infrastructure. The JIT then asked for full payment at once or in 22 instalments and had declared that the possession of the same would be delivered in 2012.

The complainants said they all paid the price of the flat to the tune of Rs 5.75 lakh to Rs 6 lakh to the JIT in instalments or at once as per the terms within two-and-a-half year. Their last instalment was paid in 2012. And, as per the conditions of the allotment letter, the JIT was to give the possession of the flats to them on the payment of the last instalment. However, it has miserably failed to deliver the possession till date.

They said they had several times visited the JIT authorities to know about the status of their flat, allotted to them, but were never given any suitable reply.

They also alleged that poor quality material was used in building the apartments by the JIT, while there was no provision of street lights, sewerage, electricity or water in the area till date.

The notice of the complaint was given to the JIT by the forum. However, officials said the complainants themselves were at fault as they did not turn up to take the possession of the flat as per the terms and conditions of the allotment letter.

President of the forum Karnail Singh and member Jyotsna, after considering the facts presented by the complainants and the Trust, in its judgment said as per the allotment letter, the Trust was liable to complete the construction work within two-and-a-half-year. However, it failed to bring the evidence, proving that the work of the flats has been completed and the same is fit for delivery. Hence, the JIT is directed to return the earnest money to the complainants with interest of 12 per cent per annum from the date of deposit till realisation.

Allottees won cases last month too

Last month too, five allottees of Bibi Bhani Complex won cases against JIT. Darshan Ahuja, president, Bibi Bhani Residential Welfare Association, while talking to The Tribune said a total of 74 allottees had filed complaints with the forum, of those 26 have won the cases, while 48 judgments were still pending.