Navi Mumbai-based cooperative Housing society fined for damaging member's shops

The additional Thane district consumer forum has recently asked a Navi Mumbai-based cooperative housing society (CHS) to pay a compensation of Rs1 lakh to one of its members for damaging her two shops.  

The case dates back to May 2010, when Lakshmi Venkatachalam owner of the shops in Aranja Towers CHS, had renovated her shops. According to the forum’s order copy: “Lakshmi decided to renovate the shops in order to give them out on rent. Accordingly, she had spent Rs4 lakh for the process. After the renovation work was completed, the complainant on June 14, 2010 decided to visit her shops. However, she was shocked to see that the entire plaster of paris (POP) frame of the renovated false ceiling had fallen on the floor, thereby damaging her electric appliances.” 

The complainant saw that the society had gone about scrapping the terrace flooring in order to repair it. This had an adverse affect on the complainant’s shops. Also, since lots of cracks were left open, water penetrated through them resulting in a damp ceiling. 

The complainant issued a legal notice to the society members but they failed to respond. 

When the forum asked the society members to file their say on the complaint, the society failed to turn up. The forum, after going through the evidence produced, held that the society was at fault.