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NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, NEW DELHI
Sudip Ahluwalia, Presiding Member
Satya Dulal Das Gupta – Petitioner
versus
Amitava Banerjee and Ors. – Respondents
Revision Petition No.2524 of 2017
(Against the Order dated 13/07/2017 in Appeal No. 696/2015 of the State Commission West Bengal)
Decided on 18.3.2024

Advocates:
Counsel for the Parties:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Debojyoti Bhattacharya, Advocate
For the Respondent: NEMO

Headnote:

Consumer Protection Act, 1986 – Section 21(b) [Consumer Protection Act, 2019 – Section 58(1)(b)] – Revision – Services – Allotment of Flat/Plot – Delayed Possession – Forged Document – Unfortunately, both the Ld. Fora below did not attempt to consider such averment and contentions raised on behalf of Petitioner/Opposite Party nor carefully examined the document Annexure-A, on the basis of which, they held that the Complainant was a ‘Consumer’ qua the Petitioner, although actually there was never any Agreement between him regarding transfer of the ground floor Flat to the Complainant whose original status therein was only of a tenant. Both the Ld. Fora below therefore, fell into error by not taking notice of the fact that Photostat copy of the alleged Agreement dated 22.11.2010 filed as Annexure-A was a forged document by way of fraudulent insertion of running page 13 in the same, which page actually was a part of a different Development Agreement executed only between the Petitioner and other Opposite Parties – Petition allowed, the concurrent decisions of both the Ld. Fora below are liable to be set aside, since they have failed to take notice of the palpable evidence of forgery in the document filed by the Complainant, on the basis of which, the complaint was allowed. [Paras 5 to 12].

Result: Petition allowed.

ORDER

Sudip Ahluwalia, Presiding Member—This Revision Petition has been filed against the impugned Order dated 13.07.2017 passed by the Ld. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, West Bengal in Appeal No. 696/2015, vide which the Appeal filed by the Petitioner was dismissed, and the Order of the Ld. District Forum was affirmed.

2. The factual background in brief, is that the Petitioner is the owner of a plot of land with an old two-storied building situated at Premises No. 23, Harey Krishna Sett Lane in North 24 Parganas, measuring about 2 Cottahs 15 Chittack 11 Sq. Ft. The Complainant had been a tenant of the entire ground floor of the building for a long time and regularly paid rent. On 15.04.2010, the Petitioner entered into a Development Agreement with Opposite Party Nos. 2, 3, and 4 for the development of the property after demolishing the old building. Additionally, the Petitioner executed a registered General Power of Attorney on 16.04.2010 in favor of the Developers. As part of the agreement, the Complainant was required to vacate the rented premises for demolition and construction purposes, and to issue a ‘No Objection Certificate’ as necessary. In exchange for the NOC, the Opposite Parties agreed to allot a complete flat measuring around 500 Sq. Ft. carpet area on the ground floor of the new building, free of cost, including any registration fees. An agreement to this effect was signed between the Complainant and the Opposite Parties on 22.12.2010. The Developers completed the construction and delivered possession of the flat to the Complainant on 20.06.2013. However, they failed to execute and register a Deed of Conveyance in favour of the Complainant despite repeated requests. The Complainant then sent a Legal Notice dated 28.02.2014 to the Opposite Parties, urging them to register the Deed of Conveyance promptly, but received no response. Aggrieved by his failure to obtain a registered Deed of Conveyance, the Complainant filed his Complaint before the Ld. District Forum, North 24 Parganas, Barasat.

3. The Ld. District Forum vide its Order dated 12.05.2015 allowed the Complaint and directed the Petitioner (and other Opposite Parties) to execute and register the Deed of Conveyance in respect of the concerned Flat, along with payment of Rs. 10,000/- as compensation and Rs. 3,000/- as litigation costs. The Petitioner filed Appeal before the Ld. State Commission, which vide the impugned Order dated 13.07.2017 dismissed the same, and upheld the Order of the Ld. District Forum. The relevant extracts of the impugned Order are set out as below –

“Admittedly, the father of the complainant was a tenant under the appellant in respect of a portion of ground floor of an old two storied building lying and situated at Premises No.23, Hare Krishna Sett Lane, P.S.- Sinthee, Kolkata - 700050 at a rental of Rs.250/- per month payable according to English calendar. Undisputedly, on 15.04.2010 the appellant/landowner had entered into a Development Agreement with respondent nos. 2 to 4 for development of the said property after demolishing the existing structure. On the following day, i.e. on 16.04.2010 the appellant has also executed a registered General Power of Attorney in favour of respondent nos. 2 to 4. It is also not in dispute that on 27.06.2013 the respondent nos. 2 to 4 handed over the possession of one flat measuring about 400 sq. ft. super built up area on the backside of the building in favour of the tenant/occupier and to that effect, a possession letter/declaration dated 27.06.2013 is available on the record. The appellant/owner being a

confirming party to the same put his

signature as one of the witnesses with date.

Now, the whole trouble cropped up

for non-execution of Deed of Conveyance.

Ld. Advocate for the appellant, on the threshold of his argument has submitted that the scheduled property is lying and situated under P.S.- Sinthee, Kolkata - 700050 within the local limits of Ward No.2 of Kolkata Municip

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