Flat Buyers (Consumers) can join hands and approach National Consumer Commission: Directly.
Flat Buyers (Consumers) can join hands and approach National Consumer Commission: Directly.
>>> “Society is guilty if anyone suffers unjustly”: (Late) Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer: India’s Super Judge……………. People’s Judge……..Judge for: Justice for the Masses.
Justice VR Krishna Iyer envisaged: ‘mass action appeals’, in which a mass of common man can appeal against a common evil………….in other words…..Class Action Suits!
Class Action Suit: by Consumers has become a reality to happen in India, with order of Apex Consumer Commission and Apex Court of India.
>> The Supreme Court of India upheld a decision by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to allow flat buyers to jointly approach it in case of a dispute with a builder, allowing home buyers to leapfrog lower Forums: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, and approach the National (Apex) consumer commission (NCDRC), directly.
It also made it clear that the pecuniary jurisdiction is to be determined on the basis of the aggregate of the value of the products or service rendered to the consumers.
As on date, if the value of the suit is Rs 1 crore or more, the jurisdiction lies with the NCDRC. Less than Rs 1 crore but more than Rs 20 lakh, the jurisdiction is with the respective state forum and less than Rs 20 lakh with the respective district forum.
>>> Dated: 21st FEBRUARY, 2017; Supreme Court of India:
“These people have trusted in your business. And you want them to go to the state or district forum,”
The Apex Court bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra told the company’s (real estate developer Amrapali ) counsel, Rakesh Kumar.
Thus: The Supreme Court empowers Home Buyers Association to file case against unfair developers. Home Buyers Associations can now collectively file cases in NCDRC.
Hence: As held by: The Apex consumer forum: (NCDRC):“Class Action” suits can be entertained under the Consumer Protection (CP) Act.
>>> The ruling opens the doors for others stuck with delayed flats to approach the apex panel in a similar manner.
In a case of individuals who bought flats from real estate developer Amrapali, the panel allowed multiple individuals to club their cases to cross the `Rupees: 1crore, ceiling.
The developer had challenged the decision at the apex court.
Disputes between buyers and sellers need to be first raised at state- or district-level consumer rights panels, where they are usually stuck for a while.
The national panel can be approached only for appeals or if the total value of the disputed deal crosses Rupees: 1 crore.
>>> The NCDRC ( National Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum) had held that under Section 12 (1) (c) of the CP Act ( Consumer Protection Act) a group of consumers having a common interest or a common grievance seeking same relief against the same person can file the ‘class action suit’.
Different regulations may have a different requirement for filing it, but generally more than one person can file it.
The government-Nestle legal battle is the first instance of a class action suit filed in the country by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, citing the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
Class action: is simply filing a law suit in a larger group instead of individual suits where there are numerous persons having the same interest in that suit.
A class action suit can also be filed under Section 91, Order 1 Rule 8 of Civil Procedure Code, 1908.
However different statutes may have different provisions for filing suit.
http://ncdrc.nic.in/bare_acts/Consumer%20Protection%20Act-1986.html
http://www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/laws/civil-procedure-code-1908.html
>>> Principles of consumer protection are provided under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 which is primarily based on principles of “unfair trade practice”
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 1986:
- Definitions. – (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:
(r) “unfair trade practice” means a trade practice which, for the purpose of promoting the sale, use or supply of any goods or for the provision of any service, adopts any unfair method or unfair or deceptive practice including any of the following practices, namely;
- Manner in which complaint shall be made.—(1) A complaint in relation to any goods sold or delivered or agreed to be sold or delivered or any service provided or agreed to be provided may be filed with a District Forum by –
(c) one or more consumers, where there are numerous consumers having the same interest, with the permission of the District Forum, on behalf of, or for the benefit of, all consumers so interested; or
http://ncdrc.nic.in/bare_acts/Consumer%20Protection%20Act-1986.html
>>> Those buying, or those who have paid money as booking amount for their flats in various housing societies, can collectively sue a builder if he errs in keeping his declared promises.
The NCDRC has gone a step ahead to hold that date of booking, allotment, purchase of the flat would be wholly irrelevant in such a complaint.
>>> It shall be pertinent to go thru the whole decision by full bench of NCDRC president DK Jain, members VK Jain and BC Gupta, while settling the issue of class action suit, that laid:: a complaint under Section 12 (1) (c) of the Act can be filed on behalf of or for the benefit of all the consumers, having a common interest or a common grievance seeking the same and similar relief against the same person.
Case No. CC/819/2016
Dated : 30 Aug 2016
ORDER
IA/7247,7249,7251 & 7253 /2016 (Maintainability of Complaint)
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………………….J | |
V.K. JAIN | |
PRESIDING MEMBER |
Dated : 14 Feb 2017
ORDER | ||||||
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………………….J | |
V.K. JAIN | |
PRESIDING MEMBER |
NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION |
NEW DELHI |
CONSUMER CASE NO. 816,817,818,819 OF 2016 | |||||
WITH IA/4597/2016,IA/4598/2016,IA/5646/2016,IA/7246/2016,IA/7247/2016,IA/8126/2016,IA/10665/2016,IA/10666/2016 |
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………..Complainant(s) | ||||
Versus
Opp Party(s) |
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BEFORE: | |
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE V.K. JAIN,PRESIDING MEMBER |
>>> IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO.10882 OF 2016
M/S. AMRAPALI SAPPHIRE DEVELOPER PVT. LTD. Appellant(s)
VERSUS
M/S. AMRAPALI SAPPHIRE FLAT BUYERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION Respondent(s)
WITH CIVIL APPEAL NO.10954 OF 2016
CIVIL APPEAL NO.10979 OF 2016 CIVIL APPEAL NO.11094 OF 2016
( Appealed Against Case No CCN 819/16
NATIONAL CONSUMERS DISPUTES REDDRESSAL COMMISSION, NEW DELHI)
O R D E R
Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order(s) passed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi.
The civil appeals are accordingly dismissed. ……………………
- (DIPAK MISRA) ……………………
- (A.M. KHANWILKAR) …………………..
.J. (MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR)
NEW DELHI;
21st FEBRUARY, 2017.
http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/casestatus_new/querycheck_page2.asp
>>> Thus: Gone are the times when aggrieved home buyer did not have an option but to give in to builder’s illegal demands.
Builders also find it difficult to silence individuals when confronted as groups.
Home buyers should get their group registered to form a registered, collective and legal body.
Nitish Banka is an advocate practicing in Supreme Court of India and can be reached at [email protected] or 9891549997