District Consumer Disputes’ Redressal commission sentenced a builder to pay fine of Rs 40,000 for delaying the implementation of orders of the commission. Though the developer returned Rs 3.32 lakh to the complainant complying with the commission’s orders, the commission imposed the fine for delay on the part of the builder in implementing the order. According to details, a 65-year-old woman Rekha bought a flat from Revati associates in 2015 in Hingana locality. She paid Rs 1.21 lakh to the builder in connection with the flat.
But, Revati Associates failed to hand over the flat to the woman, forcing her to approach the commission for justice. It ruled that the builder should return Rs 1.21 lakh with 18 per cent interest and also directed him to pay Rs 25,000 additionally towards compensation and Rs 5000 towards court expenses. If the builder fails to pay off the amount with the deadline, it asked the builder to pay a daily fine of Rs 25 till the whole payment is made to her. However, the builder did not make any payments, leading to Rekha moving the commission again.
Taking a serious view of the delay, the commission breathed fire on Revati Associates’ Director Suhas More and warned him of dire consequences like putting him behind the bar if the commission’s orders are not carried out immediately. It directed the builder to pay a fine of Rs 40,000 to the woman. The commission was not in a mood to listen to the director’s request to the court pleading not to levy fine Rs 40,000 as he is prepared to pay the complainant Rs 3.32 lakh to her. The commission told the director that it would not be able to show any lenience towards the builder since the developer harassed the complainant for nearly 34 months. It asked the director to pay the fine immediately.
