Pvt builder asked to pay Rs 2 lakh for 'deficiency in service'

A consumer forum here has asked real estate major Arun Dev Builders Ltd to pay about Rs two lakh to a woman for not giving her a plot booked four years ago in its Haridwar project, terming it "deficiency in service".
South Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, presided by Justice A S Yadav, directed the firm to pay Rs 1.91 lakh to Delhi resident Renu Aggarwal.
In its order, the forum also noted that the firm had violated various provisions of law by advertising the project without obtaining the proper licence.
"It is significant to note that even after four years of taking the money from the complainant, construction was not even completed and stated to be in progress only... It is a clear-cut case of deficiency in service on part of Opposite Party (firm)," the forum said.

It directed the firm to refund the amount of Rs 1,76,382, along with nine per cent interest per annum from 2008.
Besides, the forum also directed the firm to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 towards litigation expenses.

According to the complaint, Aggarwal had booked a plot in the firm's proposed project at Haridwar in Uttarakhand and paid Rs 1,76,382.
It said the firm had promised to make allotment within six months of booking of the plot, which was not done. It also said that even an approach road for access to the project was not built.
Aggarwal, thereafter, approached the company to refund the total booking amount and a compensation of Rs one lakh and litigation expenses of Rs 25,000.

The firm, however, denied any deficiency in service on its part and stated that Aggarwal had made a default in the payment and claimed that it had never promised that the allotment will be given within six months.