Hand over flat or repay buyer with interest

The state consumer dispute redressal commission has held a Dadar-based builder, M/S Gharandaj builders, guilty of failing to hand over a flat which a Bhandup-based man booked in 2006. The commission has asked the builder to hand over the possession of the promised flat to the complainant along with its occupation certificate. In case the developer fails to do so, the commission has ordered that it can either hand over some other flat measuring the same area in the same locality, or return the paid money with 18 per cent interest from 2016.

The commission in its order held that it was clear that although the complainant, Vishnu Chaudhari, had deposited an amount of Rs 14 lakh with the firm, it had failed to hand over possession of the flat to the complainant. Hence, the complainant is entitled to get possession of the flat along with an ancillary relief of Rs 5 lakh towards the complainant's mental agony and Rs 10,000 towards his litigation charges.