Chandigarh: Consumer panel orders builder to pay Rs 48 lakh to complainant

Chandigarh: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chandigarh has directed a Mohali-based builder to refund Rs 48 lakh with 10 per cent interest rate to a city resident after the builder failed to deliver a residential villa and plot despite taking the amount. In a complaint filed before the commission, Inderbir Singh claimed that M/s Bajwa Developers had offered him a residential villa in Sunny Enclave, Mohali for Rs 56,00,000. He said he paid Rs 48,00,000 to the builder and signed an agreement to sell the villa on June 19, 2019. He said both the parties had agreed that the remaining amount would be paid at the time of execution of the registered sale deed. He alleged that the builder failed to execute the registered sale deed on the ground that it had been sold to another person. He said the builder offered him two residential plots in Sector 124, Global City, Sunny Enclave, Kharar on payment of Rs 19,46,000 and promised to refund the remaining amount of Rs 28,54,000. The complainant alleged that the project in which his money and villa were accommodated was not approved and no approvals were sought from the concerned authorities for the plot and the project. He said he approached the builder several times to get his money back but to no avail. The builder denied these allegations. He claimed that he had obtained all the requisite permissions and if there was any delay, it was due to administrative exigencies. After hearing the arguments, the commission said the builder failed to execute the registered sale deed for the villa and also failed to give possession of the plot to the complainant even though he had taken money for it. The builder was therefore directed to refund Rs 48,00,000 to the complainant along with 10 per cent annual interest.