Glada, Puda to pay for deficiency in service

Ludhiana: The district consumer disputes redressal commission has directed the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada) and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (Puda) to pay a composite fine of Rs 50,000 for failing to provide a customer with physical possession of a plot. The commission also ordered a refund of more than Rs 9.37 lakh along with 12% annual interest, to be paid within 30 days to Vineet Chhabra of Shahabad Markanda in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district.
The complaint suggests that Ravinder Kumar of Dera Bassi, Mohali, had applied for a 400-square-yard plot at the Sugar Mill site in Jagraon on Nov 30, 2012, after depositing Rs 3.4 lakh as earnest money. Kumar was successful in the draw of lots held on Jan 10, 2013, and a letter of intent was issued to him on Feb 28, 2013. Shortly after, Kumar sold the plot to Chhabra, who applied for the transfer, which was acknowledged by Glada and Puda.
Chhabra claimed that despite paying more than Rs 9.37 lakh out of the total cost of Rs 34 lakh, and receiving an allotment letter on Aug 29, 2015, the authorities concerned had failed to deliver possession of the plot to him or complete the promised development work. After waiting for more than seven years, Chhabra requested for a refund.
Glada and Puda claimed to have completed the development work within the stipulated time and even offered possession. They presented a completion certificate dated Feb 19, 2021, along with photographs to support their claims. However, the commission noted that this certificate was issued after Chhabra had sent them a legal notice in Oct 2020 and filed the complaint in Feb 2021.
The commission ruled Glada and Puda guilty of rendering deficient services and engaging in unfair trade practices, so it ordered them to pay the refund and compensation.