Consumer forum raps DDA over "nepotism, high-handedness"

The Delhi Development Authority and its officials have been pulled up by a consumer forum here for "high-handedness and nepotism" in dealing with flat allottees, saying they behaved as if they were the final authority and the customers were "totally at their mercy".
While dealing with a case, the South Delhi district consumer disputes redressal forum said the facts "hoarsely demonstrate that the officials of DDA sometimes are very high-handed, nepotistic and act in a manner as if they are the final authority and allottees are totally at their mercy."
The case pertained to a complaint in which the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) cancelled the allotment of a flat as it received no response from the allottee since the allotment letter was not sent by the housing body to his new address that had been submitted by him and received by it.

Terming the entire episode as "callousness" and gross deficiency in service on part of the DDA, the forum ordered it to allot a flat in the next draw to the complainant at the same costs which prevailed on the date the complaint was filed and give a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the complainant.
"The innocent complainant could not get possession of a flat which was allotted to him by the Opposite Party (DDA) in the draw held on October 15, 2004 only because of the high- handedness of the officials," the forum bench headed by President N K Goel said.

The bench, also comprising member Naina Bakshi, said "it is not the case of the DDA that demand-cum-allotment letter had ever been issued to the complainant at his newly intimated address. Was it not its legal duty to send the demand-cum- allotment letter to the complainant on his newly intimated address? Certainly.

"However, the DDA did not do so for reasons best known to its officials and they deprived a legally entitled person from allotment of a residential flat," it said.
The forum said that the "innocent buyer" could not get possession of a flat which was allotted to him in the draw held on October 15, 2004 only because of the "high-handedness" of the officials of the DDA.

"We hold the DDA guilty of gross deficiency in service and direct it to include the name of the complainant in the next draw to be held by it in respect of LIG flats in any locality.
"OP shall allot a LIG flat to the complainant on the costs prevalent on April 23, 2013 (date of filing complaint). After the allotment of an LIG flat to the complainant the OP shall issue a demand-cum-allotment letter to the complainant at his present given address through Speed Post," it said.
It also directed the DDA to pay Rs 25,000 towards compensation for causing mental agony and harassment to the complainant.

As per the complaint, Ranjan had booked an LIG flat in the NPRS scheme 1979 of the DDA by paying Rs 1,500. It said he had changed his residence in 1984 and informed the DDA about the new address through a letter on May 20, 1988 which was acknowledged by the authority the same day.
However, when the draw took place in 2004, he did not get any intimation from DDA and after nearly a decade-long battle with the authorities, he lodged a complaint against them.
Denying the allegations, the DDA submitted that they had sent the allotment letter at his old address and never got a reply from him, following which his allotment was cancelled.