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SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2022] 7 S.C.R.
RAVINDER SINGH CHANA
v.
KHANNA PROPERTIES AND INFRASTRUCTURES PVT. LTD.
(Civil Appeal No(C). 5793 of 2022)
AUGUST 24, 2022
[S. ABDUL NAZEER AND J.K. MAHESHWARI, JJ.]
Consumer Protection – Construction of flat not completed
even after receipt of amount within the fixed time period – State
Commission directed the respondent to refund the total amount of
Rs.21.18 Lakhs to the appellant with interest – However, National
Commission directed the refund of Rs.16,18,000/- with interest –
On appeal, held: National Commission erred in partially reversing
the order of State Commission – Order of National Commission set
aside – Respondent to pay/refund the amount in terms of the order
of the State Commission within two months, if already not paid/
refunded.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 5793
of 2022.
From the Judgment and Order dated 17.02.2022 of the National
Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi in First Appeal
No.387 of 2021.
Akshat Shrivastava, Satvic Mathur, Advs. for the Appellant.
Yashish Chandra, Yash Agrawal, Devesh Pratap Singh, Advs. for
the Respondent.
The following Order of the Court was passed:
O R D E R
1. Leave granted.
2. By an order dated 15.10.2020, M.P. State Consumer Dispute
Redressal Commission, Bhopal, (M.P.) (for short ’the State Commission’)
directed the respondent herein to refund a total sum of Rs.21,18,000/-
(Rupees twenty-one lakhs eighteen thousand only) to the appellant with
interest thereon within a period of two months. The operative portion of
the order of the State Commission is as under:
[2022] 7 S.C.R. 136
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“It is proved in the light of above investigation/observation and
justice citations that even after receipt of an amount of Rs.21.18
Lakhs, within a fixed time period, which is generally presumed
approximately two years, the construction of the flat has not been
completed. Hence the complainant is entitled to receive the deposit
amount back along with interest. Therefore this complaint case is
allowed/accepted and respondent is directed to pay an amount of
Rs.21.18 Lakh (Rs. Twenty One Lakh Eighteen Thousand only)
within a period of two months and also to pay simple interest of
9% per annum upon the above said amount from the dated
19.01.2015 the last depositing installment till realization date. The
respondent also to pay an amount of Rs.5,000/- (Rs. Five Thousand
only) as litigation expenses to the complainant.”
3. However, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal
Commission, New Delhi (for short ‘the National Commission’) has passed
the impugned order dated 15.10.2020 directing the refund of
Rs.16,18,000/- (Rupees sixteen lakhs eighteen thousand only) with interest
@ 9% per annum within a period of two months from the date of the
said order.
4. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of
the materials placed on record, we are of the view that the National
Commission was in error in partially reversing the order of the State
Commission. Therefore, the order of the National Commission impugned
herein is hereby set aside and the order of the State Commission dated
15.10.2020 is hereby restored.
5. The respondent is directed to pay/refund the amount in terms
of the order of the State Commission dated 15.10.2020 within a period
of two months from today, if already not paid/refunded.
6. The civil appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Divya Pandey
Appeal disposed of.
(Assisted by : Roopanshi Virang, LCRA)
RAVINDER SINGH CHANA v. KHANNA PROPERTIES AND
INFRASTRUCTURES PVT. LTD.
Lex