Tamil Nadu

StateCommission

CC/116/2014

THIAGARAJAN NATARAJAN - Complainant(s)

Versus

ROYAL SPLENDOUR DEVELOPERS - Opp.Party(s)

S. BALASUBRAMANIAN

18 Mar 2015

ORDER

BEFORE THE STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, CHENNAI

 

BEFORE         HON’BLE THIRU JUSTICE R. REGUPATHI        PRESIDENT

                        THIRU.J. JAYARAM                                 JUDICIAL MEMBER 

                        TMT. P. BAKIYAVATHI                                                MEMBER

 

                                                                                        C.C. 116/2014

Dated this the 17^th day of MARCH, 2015

 

Thiagarajan Natarajan

S/o K.Natarajan

Rep.by his mother and power

Agent Mrs. Shengavalli

No.80, Prithika Illam

7^th Cross Street

Santhosh Nagar

Teachers Colony

Puthagaram,

Chennai 600 099                                                  ..complainant

                                           Vs

M/s Royal Splendor Developers (pvt) Ltd

Lawyer Jagannathan street

AMG Towers, 3^rd Floor

GST Road, Guindy, Chennai-16                             ..opposite party

 

Counsel for the complainant                       : M/s S.Balasubramaniam

For the opposite party                                : Exparte

 

                                            ORDER

THIRU.J.JAYARAM, JUDICIAL MEMBER

            This case coming before us for final hearing on 4.2.2015 and on hearing the arguments of the complainant’s counsel and the opposite party remaining exparte and upon perusing the material records, this Commission made the following order:

 

1. The case of the complainant is as follows:-  

            The case of the complainant is that he paid a sum of Rs.21,63,816/- to the opposite party towards purchase of an apartment at the price of Rs.2199/- per sq. ft and subsequently the opposite party offered  some other flats having more extent and the opposite party did not commence the construction and therefore he cancelled the order and demanded refund of the amount paid to the opposite party and compensation. But the opposite party did not refund the amount which amounts to deficiency in service on the part of the opposite party. Hence the complaint praying for direction to the opposite party

1. to give back the sum of Rs. 21,63,816/-  paid towards 100% down payment sale consideration along with interest at the rate of 18%  as promised for the invested amount
2. Rs.5,00,000/- as compensation for not allotting the apartment as assured
3. Rs.2,00,000/- towards mental agony and hardship suffered by the complainant and his mother who is the power of Attorney
4. Rs.25,000/- towards costs.
5. and to pass any other order or orders that deem fit and proper and thus the render justice.

2.      The opposite party remained absent after receiving the notice and he was set exparte by the District Forum.

 

3.   The points for consideration are as follows:  

1). Whether there is deficiency in service of the opposite party as alleged in the complaint?

2).  Whether the complainant is entitled to claim compensation from the opposite party?

3). To what relief the complainant is entitled?

4.       The complainant filed his proof affidavit along with 12 documents marked as Ex.A. 1 to Ex.A.12.

5.  Point No.1 and 2:-

                  The complainant has contended that he had paid a sum of Rs. 21,63,816/- to the opposite party by way of cheques dated 26.7.2012 for purchasing an apartment/flat; but the opposite party did not commence the construction for some reason or other not known to the complainant and so he cancelled the arrangement with the opposite party and demanded refund of the amount already paid to the opposite party, but the opposite party did not refund the amount.

6.           Ex.A.10 is the Advocate notice dated 22.5.2014 sent by the complainant to the opposite party and Ex.A.11 is another notice dated 9.6.2014 sent by the complainant to the opposite party. Ex.A.12 is the reply notice dated 12.6.2014 from the opposite party to the complainant. In the reply Ex.A.12, the opposite party has admitted  receipt of Rs.21,63,816/- from the complainant and the opposite party has further  stated that the opposite party agrees to pay the amount without any deduction for cancellation. It is admitted by the opposite party that they are willing to refund the amount of Rs. 21,63,816/- with interest at the rate of 18% p.a. On perusal of Ex.A.1 to A.12, we come to know that the opposite party was not inclined to carry out the construction work for certain reasons and this amounts to deficiency in service on the part of the opposite party and we hold that the complainant is entitled to get compensation from the opposite party and the points are answered accordingly.

7. Point No.3

       It is pertinent to note that in the complaint, the complainant has claimed refund of Rs.21,63,816/- with interest at the rate of 18% p.a. for the invested amount and compensation of Rs.5 lakh for not allotting the apartments and Rs.2 lakh for mental agony and hardship and to pay costs of Rs.25,000/- whereas in the proof affidavit filed by the complainant, it is stated that after filing of this complaint, the opposite party has paid a sum of Rs.10 lakh as part payment and the relief sought in the proof affidavit  is to direct the opposite party to refund  Rs. 7,63,816/- with  interest at the rate of 18% p.a. from the date of payment for the entire invested amount and to pay compensation and costs.

8.        As stated above in the complaint he has claimed refund of Rs.21,63,816/- from the opposite party. In the proof affidavit, the claim is to refund of Rs. 7,63,816/- from the opposite parties with interest. It is pertinent to note that the complainant has stated in the Proof affidavit that after filing of this complaint before this Commission, the opposite party has paid part payment of Rs. 10,00,000/-(Rupees Ten Lakhs).  We are not able to  understand how the amount of Rs. 7,63,816/- is arrived at; but however a lesser amount is now claimed by the complainant and so we are inclined to pass an order to refund of Rs.7,63,816/- only with interest at the rate of  18% p.a. from 6.10.2014, the date of complaint till payment. The point is answered accordingly.

      In the result, the complaint is partly allowed directing the opposite party to refund a sum of Rs. 7,63,816/- (Rupees Seven Lakhs sixty three thousand Eight hundred and sixteen only ) with interest at the rate of 18% p.a. from the date of complaint i.e. 6.10.2014 till realization. No order as to costs.

          Time for compliance – two months from the date of receipt of copy of the order and in case of default to comply with the order, the amount of Rs.7,63,816/- shall carry interest at the rate of 18% per annum from the date of default till realization.  

 

P.BAKIYAVATHI                               J. JAYARAM                         R.REGUPATHI

        MEMBER                               JUDICIAL MEMBER                    PRESIDENT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

                                         ANNEXURE

LIST OF THE DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE COMPLAINANT

Ex. A.1         26.7.2012     Xerox copy of cheques

Ex.A.2          31.7.2012     copy of letter intimating the provisional allotment 

Ex.A.3          10.8.2012     copy of letter mentioning  the apartment  

Ex.A.4          6.7.2014      copy of provisional allotment letter

Ex.A.5           31.7.2013     copy of service tax payment reminder

Ex.A.6           10.8.2013     copy of provisional allotment letter

Ex.A.7          22.12.2013   copy of e.mail communication of the complainant      

                                        and the opposite party  

Ex.A.8          20.1.2014     copy of General power of Attorney executed by the

                                        complainant

Ex.A.9          7.5.2014      copy of cheque return intimation by the bank

Ex.A.10        22.5.2014     copy of legal notice issued to the opposite party

                                       for the return of the amount.

Ex.A.11        9.6.2014      copy of legal notice issued to the opposite party

Ex.A.12        12.6.2014     copy of reply given by the Advocate

Opposite party’s side documents : Nil   

 

P.BAKIYAVATHI                               J. JAYARAM                         R.REGUPATHI

        MEMBER                               JUDICIAL MEMBER                    PRESIDENT