Mumbai, June 10: A couple, who was initially denied a flat in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area by a prominent builder, got a new home along with a compensation of Rs 7 lakh. According to a TOI report, the incident took place five years after the builder refused to hand over a flat in a new residential tower to a couple they had paid for it.

The couple then took the help of the Maharashtra State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and to their luck, the commission has ordered the builder to give the couple an apartment in the vicinity of the building and also pay Rs 7 lakh as compensation.

The bench of P B Joshi and A K Zade informed that there is a clear-cut deficiency on the part of (the builder). The bench said the couple, Professor Kirti Laddha and his wife Shruti was entitled to an alternate flat of the same size (610 sq ft) in the same locality on payment of the remaining Rs 9 lakh.

The couple had booked the flat on the 11th floor of a redeveloped building RNA Sagar, constructed by GA Builders (an RNA Corporation Group company) in 2009. According to a TOI report, the couple also has the option of getting a refund of the amount of around Rs 22 lakh instead of the flat.

It must be noted that the couple had paid an amount of around Rs 22 lakh along with 21% interest. The Maharashtra State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission said that the compensation of Rs 7 lakh is for the couple’s mental agony and physical suffering.

The Commission further ruled that it is an admitted position that (the) flat was booked by the complainants in 2009 and a considerable amount was paid and in spite of that they were not put in possession of the flat and were required to file the consumer complaint. The bench also imposed litigation costs of Rs 25,000 on the builder.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 10, 2018 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).