Punjab

Rupnagar

CC/18/120

Parshotam Ram - 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.  120 of 27.11.2018

                                 Date of decision                    :    02.05.2019

 

Parshotam Ram, aged about 51 years, son of Maiya Ram, resident of Village Balewal, PO Basali, Tehsil Anandpur Sahib, District  Rupnagar  

                                                                 ......Complainant

                                             Versus

1. M/s Nature Heights Infra Limited, Head Office, 9, Sunder Nagri, Opposite Children Park, Hanumangarh Road, Abohar, District Fazilka (Pb.) through Chief Manager Director Neeraj Thatai alias Neeraj Arora. 
2. M/s Nature Heights Infra Limited, Head Office, 9, Sunder Nagri, Opposite Children Park, Hanumangarh Road, Abohar, District Fazilka (Pb.) through  Director Amit Kukkar
3. Jasvir Singh Branch Manager, M/s Nature Heights Infra Limited, Nuhon Colony, Village & PO Ghanauli, Tehsil & District Rupnagar.

   ....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.8960/- along with interest @ 16% per annum; to pay Rs.25,000/- as compensation on account of unfair trade practice and deficiency in service; to pay Rs.15,000/- as litigation charges along with the 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 Khedi Devnala, Tehsil Multai, District Betul 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 5400 Sq. Feet for a total consideration of Rs.75,000/- in the Ropar Branch. It was agreed between both the parties that the complainant/purchaser would be at liberty to pay sum in the installment of Rs.1120/- payable on or before monthly during six years. Complainant paid the first installment in Ropar Branch with the O.P. No.3 on 01.04.2013. The agreement for sale was also executed between the complainant and OPs on 19.07.2013. As per the terms and conditions of that agreement, the total period of payment was of six years. 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.  As per the agreement if the project is not completed within six years due to any reason or if the purchaser is not satisfied with the project he can rescind the agreement after the stipulated tenure and vendor would be bound to pay 16% per annum compounded growth to his sums already paid within three months of rescinding. The complainant deposited the amount of Rs.8960/- in 8 equal installments of Rs.1120/- each at the Ropar Branch with the O.P. No.3.  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 request for refund the amount of Rs.8960/- 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. No.1 to 3, 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 to Ex.C9 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, receipt Ex.C1 & Ex.C3 to Ex.C8, vide which complainant deposited Rs.7840/- on different dates. Then there is one agreement dated 19.07.2013, which is between the parties regarding confinement of monthly deposit and final payment was to be made within six years and the said years comes to an end July 2019. 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 the    complainant stopped further deposit of monthly installment and prayed     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.7840/. 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 notices and were proceeded against ex-parte. Qua the fraud committed some consumers got registered FIR No.59 dated 3.6.2016 against the O.Ps and its copy is Ex.C9. So complainant is able to prove deficiency on the part of O.Ps. regarding the payment of Rs.7840/- only. However, not placed on file any document qua the deposit of remaining amounts. So, the complainant is held entitled to Rs.7840/-. 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.7840/- to the complainant along with interest @ 8% per annum from the date of deposit i.e. Rs.1120/- on 01.04.2013, Rs.1120/- on 28.06.2013, Rs.1120/- on 28.07.2013, Rs.1120/- on 30.10.2013, Rs.1120/- on 29.11.2013, Rs.1120/- on 20.2.2014, Rs.1120/- on 10.5.2014 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 x