Builder to pay 2L for deficiency of services

THANE:: The Thane District Consumer Redressal forum recently directed a builder to pay legal and other expenses of over Rs 2 lakh to a Mira Road couple for not signing the sale agreement after taking the flat booking amount from them.
The forum president Umesh Jhavalikar and member N D Kadam passed this order last week on a complaint filed by Rekha and Rajesh Singh, residents of Shanti Park in Mira Road against the builder Raju Bhoir.Accepting the couple’s complaint that Bhoir failed to sign the agreement, the forum has now directed Bhoir to refund the booking amount of Rs 3 lakh with interest of 9% within 60 days, or at 12% till the amount is paid. The forum, however, refused to order any interest on cash of Rs 1.5 lakh paid by the couple to the builder for booking the flat. The forum said that due to lack of any documentary evidence, they are unable to decide whether the flat cost was Rs 17.40 lakh or Rs 30 lakh as claimed by Bhoir. As a result, the forum said that though Bhoir is guilty of deficiency of service (for not signing the sale agreement) as per rules laid down by the Maharashtra Ownership of Flats act, they cannot pass any order directing him to hand over the flat to the couple.