SC asks Greater NOIDA to deposit Rs 66 cr with it for refunding to plot buyers

The Supreme Court Monday asked a local authority in Uttar Pradesh to deposit Rs 66.82 crore, received from realty firm Unitech Ltd, with its registry to refund those who have opted out of one of its housing schemes in the Greater Noida area.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, however, made it clear that the aggrieved persons, who had booked plots in the Uniworld City-Uni Homes Plots Sector-MU at Greater NOIDA of the project, could approach the consumer court for redressal of their grievances.

The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, asked lawyer Pawan Shree Agrawal, assisting the court as an amicus curiae, to verify the names and other details of the plot applicants who wanted refund.

Earlier, the court had asked Agrawal to create a portal for registering the names of the buyers of homes or plots of the Unitech Ltd who wanted refund by opting out of the realty firm's housing schemes.

"In the meantime, Greater NOIDA shall deposit Rs 66.82 crore along with accrued interest inasmuch as the said amount belongs to the developer, before the Registry of this court.

"Pawan Shree Agrawal shall verify the portal in respect of the present project, viz. Uniworld City-Uni Homes Plots Sector-MU, Greater NOIDA so that this court can direct for pro-rata disbursement of the said amount," the bench said.

The bench said that "as far as other grievances are concerned, the consumers can approach the concerned Consumer Courts and the dispute between the developer and the Greater NOIDA shall be addressed to in due course."