SC orders Unitech to pay litigation cost to buyers

Realty giant asked to pay ₹80,000 each to 39 people

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered Unitech to pay ₹80,000 to each of the 39 homebuyers who booked flat sat the real estate giant’s Vistas project in Gurgaon as compensation, inclusive of litigation charges.

Though the project was supposed to be handed over to homebuyers in 2012, it still remains under construction.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued the directive while disposing of Unitech’s appeal against a 2015 National Consumer Disputes Re dress al Commission( NC DR C) order that imposed penalties on the company for delaying the delivery of flats.

The first-of-its-kind order is likely to add to Unitech’s woes. Company promoter Sanjay Chandra and his brother A jay are already in jail in connection with

a cheating case pertaining to another project.

Their bail pleas have been rejected, and the Supreme Court has refused to release them until the complainant sin the case have been paid.

During one of the hearings, Chief Justice Misra said the company would have to either hand over the flats or refund the money by the end of the financial year.

The aggrieved parties in the Vistas project received a refund of the principal amount they invested, besides 14% interest from January 1, 2010, through a Supreme Court order in April.

The home buyers, who booked flat sin 2009, moved the NC DR C in 2014 after Unitech failed to give possession of their flats.

The consumer forum directed the realtor to refund the principal with 18% interest. Unitech challenged the order in the Supreme Court.