PANAJI: The North Goa District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has instructed a construction firm to execute a deed of sale within two months for a flat bought by a couple from Margao in 2004, for which they paid the full price.
If the construction firm fails to adhere to this order within the specified timeframe, the consumers have the right to get the sale executed through the commission.
According to the law, the firm was obliged to register the sale deed within 18 months after the building’s construction, but it did not do so. This prompted the complainants, Santosh Joshi and his wife, Swati, to approach the consumer commission. The commission has also ordered Aditya Builders and Developers to compensate the couple with Rs 50,000.
The commission, led by President Bela Naik and members Auroliano De Oliveria and Rejitha Ranjan, concluded that the firm was contractually bound to execute the sale deed, a responsibility it failed to meet even after receiving the full payment. The couple stated that they signed an agreement with the firm on April 10, 2004, purchasing the flat for Rs 7,34,800.
Even after obtaining an occupancy certificate from the Margao Municipal Council, the firm handed over possession of the flat but neglected to execute the sale deed, continuously delaying despite numerous requests.
The complainants further highlighted that a housing cooperative society was not established, and the building’s sewage system was not connected to the public sewage network, leading to sewage chambers overflowing.
In June 2022, the complainants issued a legal notice to the firm demanding the registration of the sale deed and addressing the sewage issues, but received no reply.
They expressed concern that the delay in registering the sale deed would result in significantly increased stamp duty and registration fees. Had the firm executed the sale deed in 2007, their costs would have totaled Rs 40,000, whereas it now amounts to Rs 2 lakh.
