Arbitrator appointed to settle real estate dispute

The Madras High Court has appointed former judge of the HC Kirubakaran as an arbitrator in deciding a real estate dispute, according to orders issued by Madras HC judge Justice N Satish Kumar. A case was registered against the builder for receiving Rs 13.64 crore from buyers in 2017 and failed to keep up his promise to build flats for them. Arguing for the builder, his counsel maintained that the nature of the dispute is civil but a criminal case was registered against his client.

Therefore, he prayed to the HC to quash the FIR. But the HC felt then need to undertake investigation in the case as huge amount of money was taken from the complainants. But, at the request of the builder’s counsel, the HC gave a chance to decide the matter through arbitration. The dispute can be settled through mediation in a month, the court remarked and appointed the retired judge as arbitrator. If the dispute is not resolved in a month, action can be taken by the police department by conducting the investigation.