‘Refund balance booking amount with interest’

Mumbai: A consumer forum has directed partners of a development firm to refund of Rs 1,53,000 and Rs 53,000 respectively with interest rate of 18 per cent to two persons who had booked a bungalow for total consideration of Rs 11, 26,250 around 23 years ago and had paid a partial amount. The forum has directed the developer to also pay a compensation of Rs 2,50,000 for mental agony.

Though the complain-ants had booked the bungalow jointly, they filed separate complaints see-king possession of the bungalow or alternate bungalow or compensation. The forum refused to give possession of bungalow or alternate bungalow, as they were dema-nding separate possessions.

Aruna Kapadia and Jayantibhai Ranka initially had paid some amount at the time of booking and later also they paid some more amount and receipts for the same were issued to them.

Advocate Dhruti Kapadia for Ms Kapadia and advocate C.N. Chavan for Mr Ranka had contended before the forum that since opponents did not handover the possession of the bungalow there is a deficiency in service. While Mr Ranka demanded Rs 30 lakh as damages and Rs 5 lakh as costs. Ms Kapadia prayed for Rs 75 lakh as damages and Rs 5 lakh as costs.

Presiding judicial member P.B. Joshi held that the opponent, Ravi Developments Builders and Developers, need to return the balance amount to both the complainants.