THE DISTT. CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, ROPAR
Consumer Complaint No. 93 of 23.07.2019
Date of decision : 07.03.2022
Arjeet Kaur aged about 49 years, wife of Balbir Singh, resident of House No.1559, Type-I, Nuhon Colony, Village Ghanauli, Tehsil & District Rupnagar (Punjab)
......Complainant
Versus
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.
Jasvir Singh Branch Manager, M/s Nature Heights Infra Limited, Nuhon Colony, Village & PO Ghanauli, Tehsil & District Rupnagar.
....Opposite Parties
Complaint under Section Consumer Protection Act
QUORUM
SH. RANJIT SINGH, PRESIDENT
SMT. RANVIR KAUR, MEMBER
ARGUED BY
Sh. Amandeep Saini, Adv. counsel for complainant
O.Ps. exparte
ORDER
SH. RANJIT SINGH, PRESIDENT
1. Complainant has filed the present complaint seeking directions to the opposite parties to refund the amount of Rs.5600/- along with interest @ 16% per annum; to pay Rs.20,000/- as compensation on account of unfair trade practice and deficiency in service; to pay Rs.20,000/- 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 and the OP No.2 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.Ps. 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 Nagpur and they further advertised that they will give 16% interest per annum on the investment in the plots of the project. On the allurement of O.Ps, the complainant also invested in the plot measuring 2700 Sq. Ft on the install ent basis of Rs.560/- per month. The total tenure of the installments was of six years and the total installments were 72 installments of Rs.560/- each per month. The complainant paid the installment/booking amount in Ropar branch with OP No.2 on 25.1.2013 vide receipt Ex.C1. As per agreement the complainant deposited total amount of Rs.5600/- in 10 equal installments of Rs.560/- each. Thereafter, the complainant came to know that the Ops company has committed a big fraud with the complainant and people at large. After the complainant approached the Ops but all in vain. Hence, this complaint.
3. On being put to the notice, none appeared on behalf of O.Ps. No.1 & 2. Even publication proceedings were completed against the said OPs but despite service by way of publication, neither the OPs nor anybody else has appeared on their behalf. Accordingly, they were proceeded against exparte.
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.C11 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, receipts Ex.C1 to Ex.C10, vide which complainant deposited Rs.5600/- on different dates.
8. After appreciating the totality of the document and appreciating the evidence, complainant deposited Rs.5600/-. 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.C11. So complainant is able to prove deficiency on the part of O.Ps. regarding the payment of Rs.5600/-. So, the complainant is held entitled to Rs.5600/-. The responsibilities of the O.Ps. is joint because OP No.2 acted though in the capacity of Manager on behalf of O.P. No.1. They are liable to pay jointly and severally.
9. In the light of discussion made above, the complaint stands allowed ex-parte with the directions to the O.Ps. to pay Rs.5600/- to the complainant along with interest @ 7.5% per annum from the date of deposit. The Ops are further directed to pay a compensation and litigation expenses of Rs.20,000/- to the complainant. The OPs be also directed to comply with the order jointly and severally within the period of 30 days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.
10. 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 (RANJIT SINGH)
Dated.07.03.2022 PRESIDENT
(RANVIR KAUR)
MEMBER
