Punjab

Rupnagar

CC/18/121

Amritpal Kaur - Complainant(s)

Versus

M/S Nature Heights Infra Limited through chief Managing Director Neeraj Arora - Opp.Party(s)

Amandeep Saini

02 May 2019

ORDER

BEFORE THE DISTT. CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, ROPAR

                                 Consumer Complaint No. : 121of 27.11.2018

                                 Date of decision                    :    02.05.2019

 

Amritpal Kaur aged about 46 years, wife of Manjit Singh, resident of Village Alipur, Tehsil & District Rupnagar  (Punjab) 

                                                                 ......Complainant

                                             Versus

1. M/s Nature Heights Infra Limited, Head Office, 9, Sunder Nagri, Opposite Children Park, Hanumangarh Road, Abohar, District Fazilka through Chief Managing Director Neeraj Thatai @Neeraj Arora
2. M/sNature Heights Infra Limited, Head Office, 9, Sunder Nagri, Opposite Children Park, Hanumangarh Road, Abohar, District Fazilka through Director Gaurav Chhabra
3. Jasvir Singh, Branch Manager, M/s Nature Heights Infra Limited,  Nuhon Colony, Village & PO Ghanauli, Tehsil & District Rupnagar (Punjab) 
4. Sh. Jasvir Singh, son of Roop Lal, Village New Malikpur, PO Malikpur, Tehsil & District Ropar.

   ...Opposite Parties

 

                                   Complaint under Section 12 of the                                                      Consumer Protection Act, 1986

QUORUM

 

                        SH. KARNAIL SINGH AHHI, PRESIDENT

                        CAPT. YUVINDER SINGH MATTA, MEMBER

ARGUED BY

 

Sh. Amandeep Saini, Adv. counsel for complainant  

O.Ps. exparte 

 

                                           ORDER

              SH. KARNAIL SINGH AHHI, PRESIDENT

 

1.         Complainant has filed the present complaint seeking directions to the opposite parties to refund the amount of Rs.2,50,000/- along with interest @ 16% per annum; to pay Rs.30,000/- as compensation on account of harassment, mental agony and unfair trade practice; to pay Rs.20,000/- as litigation charges along with interest @ 18% per annum from the date of agreement till its realization in the interest of justice.  

2.    Brief facts made out from the complaint are that the O.Ps. are running the business of Real Estate, constructing flats, developing colonies and selling the plots etc. on profit basis. In addition to that they are also running the deposit business like banks, financial institutions. The OP No.1 is the Chief Managing Director, O.P. No.2 is the Director and the OP No.3 is the Branch Manager of the M/s Nature Heights Infra Limited having its office at Nuhon Colony, VPO Ghanauli, Tehsil & District Rupnagar. The O.P. attracted the general public at large by giving advertisement on the cable network and News papers etc. that they were going to present Nature Greens as Premium Residential Township in the form of a colony in Village Khdedi Devnala, Tehsil Multai, District Betul, Madhya Pradesh in which they would provide internal sewerage, water supply, drainage, parks, club etc. It is further stated that O.Ps. induced the general public to book the plots with them in the said colony. On the allurement of O.Ps, the complainant also booked one plot of 18011 Sq. Feet for a total consideration of Rs.2,50,000/- in the Ropar Branch. Complainant paid full and final payment in Ropar Branch with the O.P. No.3 at the time of agreement. The agreement for sale was also executed between the complainant and OPs on 27.04.2015.  As per the terms of the agreement, that on completion of the sale price the vendor would execute the sale deed in favour of the purchaser only after passing of three months. If the vendor will not be able to deliver the land at the end of 18 months, in that the vendor would refund the amount with 16% simple interest on paid amount. It was also agreed that the vendor/Ops would obtain all kinds of NOC, permissions and Income tax clearance by the time from appropriate authorities of Govt. When the complainant came to know that there is some fraud played by the O.Ps. in the present business. On apprehension the complainant visited the proposed site and was shocked to know that there is no construction/demarcation of the plots in the said land. Even there was no boundary wall of the said land and the land was empty and complainant approached to the O.Ps and requested for refund of the amount of Rs.2,50,000/- along with interest as per agreement but the O.Ps. did not refund the amount. Hence, this complaint. 

  3.    On being put to the notice, none appeared on behalf of O.Ps., accordingly, they were proceeded against ex-parte vide order dated 20.03.2019.

4.    On being called upon to do so, the learned counsel for the complainant has tendered duly sworn affidavit of complainant Ex.CW1/A along with documents Ex.C1 & Ex.C2 and closed the evidence.

5.    We have heard the learned counsel for the complainant and have gone through the record of the file, carefully.

6.    Complainant counsel Sh. Amandeep Saini, argued that complainant is the consumer, sufficient evidence is on the file regarding deposit and O.Ps. were proceeded against ex-parte. The complaint deserves to be allowed with costs.

7.    Complainant counsel referred the pleadings, agreement dated 27.04.2015 Ex.C1, vide which complainant deposited Rs.2,50,000/-. The Further agreement pass to late the following observations:-

       "That the vendor would obtain all kinds of NOC, permissions and income tax clearance by the time."

8.   After referring the above said part of agreement, complainant counsel made     prayer that the O.Ps. neither cleared the title nor obtained NOC      even  not made income tax clearance. When situation is such then complainant filed the present complaint and prayed that deficiency is made out and the complaint deserves to be allowed.

9.     After appreciating the totality of the document and appreciating the arguments, complainant deposited Rs.2,50,000/ as full and final payment at the time of agreement. In this way, the complainant is the consumer. O.Ps did not make any improvement as per the agreement then complainant filed the complaint in the month of November 2018. O.Ps. did not appear despite notice and were proceeded against exparte. Qua the fraud committed some consumers got registered FIR No.59 dated 3.6.2016 against the O.Ps and its copy is Ex.C2. So complainant is able to prove deficiency on the part of O.Ps. regarding the payment of Rs.2,50,000/-.  So, the complainant is held entitled to Rs.2,50,000/-. The responsibility of the O.Ps. is joint because OP No.3 acted though in the capacity of Manager on behalf of O.Ps. No.1 & 2. They are liable to pay jointly and severally.

10.   In the light of discussion made above, the complaint stands allowed ex-parte with the directions to the O.Ps. to pay Rs.2,50,000/- to the complainant along with interest @ 8% per annum from the date of deposit i.e. Rs.2,500,000/- on 27.04.2015  with costs of Rs.10,000/-.

11.   The O.Ps. are further directed to comply with the order jointly and severally within the period of two months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.

12.   The certified copies of this order be supplied to the parties forthwith, free of costs, as permissible under the rules and the file be indexed and consigned to Record Room.         

 

                     ANNOUNCED                                                    (KARNAIL SINGH AHHI)

                     Dated.02.05.2019                                     PRESIDENT
 

 

 

 

                                             (CAPT. YUVINDER SINGH MATTA)

                                                                           MEMBER