ORDER

This appeal has been filed under section 51(1) of the Act 2019 in challenge to the Order dated 21.07.2020 of the State Commission in complaint no. 971 of 2018.

2. Learned counsel for the respondent (the ‘complainant’) is present.

Learned proxy counsel appears for the appellant (the ‘builder co.’); the learned counsel is not present. Learned proxy counsel submits that he is making his submissions on instructions.

3. We have heard the learned counsel and have perused the record.

4. The appeal has been filed with reported delay of 204 days. There is no application for condonation of delay.

However, in the interest of justice, to provide fair opportunity to the appellant builder co., to decide the matter on merit rather than to dismiss it on the threshold of limitation, the delay in filing the appeal is condoned.

5. The matter relates to a builder-buyer dispute. Briefly, the builder co. entered into an agreement with the complainant on 23.09.2008 in respect of a residential unit. The complainant inter alia took loan from a financial institution. Since it was a construction-linked plan, the payments were released by the financial institution on the basis of demands made by the bui