DLF group firm to pay Rs 7.12 lakh for unfair trade practice

Indicting DLF Home Developers Ltd for taking money from the buyer without entering into a formal agreement, the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum ordered the company to refund him Rs 6.12 lakh, which the firm was yet to return.

The forum also awarded Rs one lakh as compensation to complainant Satish Sharma for harassment.

"We are of the view that opposite party (DLF Home Developers) indulged in unfair trade practice of collecting money without approval of plans and without formal execution of the agreement.

"We direct opposite party to refund the balance amount of Rs 6,12,542 (to Sharma)...We award (the complainant) Rs one lakh for harassment damages including litigation cost," the bench presided by C K Chaturvedi said.

Sharma had said that on August 27, 2008, he had deposited the booking amount with DLF Home Developers for a flat in its 'The Express Greens' project in Gurgaon. He added he had met all subsequent demands of the firm even though there was no formal agreement and he had paid a total of Rs 14.37 lakh till January 16, 2009.

Later he came to know through newspaper reports that the project had been abandoned by the company due to financial reasons, he had said.

He added that as he was a cancer patient and the project had been abandoned, he had decided not to buy the flat and had requested that his booking be cancelled and sought refund of the amount paid by him. MORE