DLF told to deliver flats in 30 days to 8 consumers

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 28

In a major relief to eight consumers, including two serving Indian Army Lt Colonels, UT State Consumer Commission has ordered DLF Homes Panchkula Pvt Ltd to give possession of residential units, complete in all respects, within 30 days and pay Rs 2 lakh compensation and 12 per cent per annum interest on the deposited amount till the possession is given to each of them.

Allcomplaints are almost identical and the complainants had moved the commission in February this year. In one such plaint, Hari Ram Dangra and his son Arun Kumar, residents of Sector 20, Panchkula, averred that DLF developed a residential housing project, “The Valley” in Sector 3, Kalka-Pinjore Urban Complex, and they approached the firm after seeing its advertisements/brochures.

Its representatives promised to provide an independent floor with a total area of 1,550 sq ft. The complainants booked a flat in the project by paying Rs 4,00,000 on September 27, 2010, while availing the construction linked plan. 

As per the agreement, the possession of the flat was to be given within 24 months from the date of execution of the said agreement and if any delay happened beyond 24 months, then the realty firm was to pay compensation. 

DLF failed to deliver the possession in time. The total price of the unit was fixed at Rs 51,64,599.81. The complainants till the filing of the present complaint had paid Rs.52,12,304.73. Later in 2014, the complainants were informed that the saleable area was revised and demanded its cost of Rs 5,89,000 with service tax Rs 18,200. The complainants protested against the demand citing agreement clause, thus it was revoked. 

Two years later, DLF offered physical possession of the unit, but that too with a rider asking the consumers to deposit Rs.17,51,924.48 within one month. On February 3, 2016, for handing over the independent floor asked the complainants to deposit an arbitrary demand of paying registration charges, club charges, registration and stamp duty. Several other  payment demands were put forth to the clients.

It was further stated that the other amenities/facilities, as promised, were not ready and DLF was not in a position to give the possession of the floor, added the complaint. 

Following this, a complaint was filed by Lt Col DPS Yadav, Pankaj Garg, Arjun Singh Patial, Pramod Kumar Kashyap, Lt Col Naveen Suri, Abhay Dhall and Neera Agarwal. Of the total penalty, Rs 1.50 lakh is towards harassment while Rs 50,000 is the ligation cost in each case.