Date of filing: 21.07.2017 Date of disposal: 20.03.2018
Complainant: 1. Satyajit Mondal, S/o. Late Madan Mohan Mondal, resident of House No. 5, Khudiram Sarani, Sarada Pally, PO: Durgapur, District: Burdwan (West), PIN – 713 231.
2. Rekha Mondal, W/o. Satyajit Mondal, resident of House No. 5, Khudiram Sarani, Sarada Pally, PO: Durgapur, District: Burdwan (West), PIN – 713 231.
Opposite Party: 1. The Director, Hahnemann Housing & Development (P) Ltd., Having its office Branch Office at Durgapur, Sanjib Sarani, Aesby More, Durgapur, District: Burdwan, PIN – 713 213.
2. Hahnemann Housing & Development (P) Ltd., represented by its Director, Having its Office at Durgapur, Sanjib Sarani, Aesby More, Durgapur, District: Burdwan, PIN – 713 213.
Present:
Hon’ble President: Smt. Jayanti Maitra (Ray).
Hon’ble Member: Smt. Nivedita Ghosh.
Hon’ble Member: Dr. Tapan Kumar Tripathy.
- Appeared for the Complainant(s): Ld. Advocate, Suvro Chakraborty.
Appeared for the Opposite Party No. 1&2: None (ex parte)
J U D G E M E N T
This complaint is filed by the complainants alleging deficiency in service and unfair trade practice against the Ops as the Ops have not handed over the allotted land as per agreement by and between the parties.
The case of the complainants in brief is that complainants after consulting with their friends and relatives, came to learn that the Ops are selling plots by creating a project, namely, “Santiban-VI” in reasonable price along with basic structure and on consultation with Ops the complainants agreed to sold a piece of land in the projected area for Rs. 2, 25,000=00. Thereafter consultation with the OPs the complainants made payment of Rs. 45,000=00 on 26.12.2011 and the OP-1&2 issued a money receipt and they also issued a certificate of booking on 28.12.2011, which is valid up to 28.01.2015 in favour of the complainant as required booking amount and on payment of such booking amount the Ops would execute an agreement for sale with them. From the certificate it will appear that the Ops had registered the booking of scheduled mentioned plot in favour of the complainants vie B.F. No. 293948. From the beginning the Ops were reluctant to make the agreement and after several request the Ops made the agreement for sale on 23.08.2012. The Ops also issued a book of EMI as the remaining amount had to be paid by the complainant in 36 installments. The complainants paid Rs. 80,000=00 to the Ops on 21.7.2012.
As per agreement the complainants paid the total price of Rs. 2,25,000=00, excluding the booking amount in 36 installments and the Ops are bound to complete all necessary works at the schedule mentioned plot and hand over the same within 3 years i.e. within 22.8.2015. As per agreement in case of withdrawal from the scheme after full payment receipt amount will be refunded in full along with interest as mentioned in Clause 6 & 12.
Inspite of all installments the Ops failed to fulfill their parts and liabilities by way of non-completion of the work as well as execution of the registered Deed of Sale in favour of the complainants. Finding no other alternative they desired to withdraw the booking from the scheme and requested the Ops to refund their money as per agreement and the Ops also agreed to refund the same, for which the Ops asked the complainants for submitting all the original documents before them and the complainants submitted all the original documents before the Ops on 17.04.2015 and the Ops issued a receipt in favour of the complainants on the same day. But very unfortunately inspite of compliance of all formalities, the complainants did not get back their money from the Ops.
After submitting all the documents before the Ops, for several times requested them for refunding their money but the Ops did not bother to give any reply to the complainants. Being so aggrieved the complainants knocked the door of the Durgapur Consumer Affairs Department and lastly compelled to file the present case before this ld. Forum with a prayer for directing the OPs to refund an amount of Rs. 2, 25,000=00 with interest as per agreement from 22.08.2015 to date of realization, directing the Ops to pay a sum of Rs. 1, 00,000=00 towards mental pain, agony and harassment and a sum of Rs. 20,000=00 towards litigation cost.
Now points for consideration:
Whether the complainants able to prove that they are entitled to receive total payment i.e., Rs. 2, 25,000=00 along with other claims from the Ops?
Let us consider how far complainants have able to prove the same against the Ops.
Decision with reasons:
To prove the allegation against the Ops both the complainants have filed their evidence-in-chief through affidavit along with documents which are (i) Xerox copies of booking certificate dated 28.12.2011, (ii) Xerox copy of payment of Rs. 45,000=00 dated 26.12.2011, (iii) Agreement for sale, (iv) Xerox copy of receipt of documents dated 17.4.2015, (vi) Xerox copies of receipt of installments during the period from 26.12.2011 to 26.12.2014.
The complainants booked to purchase a plot of land on 28.12.2011 on payment of booking amount Rs. 45,000=00 from the Ops and the Ops also issued a certificate vide B.F. No. 293948 on the same day for receiving the said amount of Rs. 45,000=00 which was valid up to 28.01.2015.
It further appears that complainants have also able to prove that an agreement was executed between them with the Ops under some terms and conditions and also able to prove that the Ops failed to fulfill the said terms and conditions either by executing deed of conveyance or by refund all money which received from the complainants.
It also appears that the complainants have also able to prove that Ops agreed to pay money and for that asked the complainants to produce original papers i.e. original sale agreement, original booking certificate, original EMI Book, original 1st booking counterpart and as such the complainants produced all the papers but the Ops are kept themselves mum regarding this.
After perusing all the documents as produced by the complainants it is clear to us that there is no dispute that the complainants have able to prove themselves as consumer and the Ops are failed to render service by obey the terms and conditions of argument. At the same time it is also clear from the attitude of both the Ops that they have received summons but not contested by filing written version.
Accordingly it is clear that there is no dispute that the complainants are able to prove that the Ops are liable for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice. So both the complainants are entitled to get back the money deposited to the account of the Ops and also entitled to get compensation towards deficiency in service, unfair trade practice, harassment and mental agony and also entitled to get litigation cost.
Hence, the complaint succeeds. Accordingly, it is
O r d e r e d
that the present Consumer Complaint being No. 127/2017 be and the same is allowed ex parte against the Ops with cost. The O.P. Nos. 1&2 are directed to pay Rs. 2, 25,000=00 either jointly or severally to the complainants along with interest @12% per annum from 23.08.2015 to till date of realization and the O.P. Nos. 1&2 are further directed to pay a sum of Rs. 30,000=00 as mental pain and harassment and Rs. 5,000=00 as litigation cost within 45 days from the date of passing of this order, in default, the complainants are at liberty to put the entire award in execution as per provisions of law.
Let plain copies of this order be supplied to the parties free of cost as per provisions of law.
Dictated & Corrected by me: (Jayanti Maitra (Ray)
President
(Nivedita Ghosh) DCDRF, Burdwan
President
DCDRF, Burdwan
(Tapan Kumar Tripathy) (Nivedita Ghosh)
Member Member
DCDRF, Burdwan DCDRF, Burdwan
