Jalandhar Improvement Trust told to refund Rs 4.46 lakh to complainant

Tribune News Service

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, June 25

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, in its judgment, ordered the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) to refund Rs 4.46 lakh along with nine per cent interest, besides paying Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the complainant for failing to provide basic amenities at Master Gurbanta Singh Enclave, where she purchased a flat from the JIT in 2008.

I was allotted a flat for Rs 3,73,000. The price of the flat was later increased by Rs 73, 500 under the pretext of development of roads, sewerage, parks and other facilities. I had paid the total amount of Rs 4,46,500 to the JIT in 2008 and they promised to give the possession of the flat with all promised facilities by 2011, but it failed to deliver. Pooja Maini, Complainant & resident of Tandon Nagar, Amritsar

In her complaint, Pooja Maini, a resident of Tandon Nagar in Amritsar, said she had submitted an application along with Rs 18,000 as token money to the JIT in November 2008 for the allotment of a flat in Master Gurbanta Singh Enclave under the 13.97-acre Indra Puram Scheme. She said her application was accepted and she was allotted a flat (LIG 136 Block A, ground floor) under the scheme for Rs 3,73,000.

“The price of the flat was later on increased by Rs 73, 500 under the pretext of development of roads, sewerage, parks and other facilities. I had paid the total amount of Rs 4,46,500 to the JIT in 2008 and they promised to give the possession of the flat with all the promised facilities by 2011, but it failed to deliver,” she added.

She further said even at present there is no proper electricity, roads, street lights and water and sewerage connections at the complex. Besides, it had promised the allottees a separate entrance in the shape of a 40-ft-wide road, but just a 11-ft road was given that too is lying blocked.

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

Meanwhile, after verifying the facts of both parties, the president of the commission, in its judgement said no completion certificate was produced by the JIT before this Commission, so the question of completion of all the basic amenities does not arise.

It said the facts presented by the complainant were proved true and directed the JIT to refund the complete amount of the flat interest at the rate of per cent per annum from the date of last deposited money, i.e. till realisation. It also directed the JIT to compensate the complainant for mental torture and harassment by paying a compensation amount of Rs 1,00,000 and also litigation expenses of Rs 10,000.

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