Status as on- 25/03/2020
INTRODUCTION
Recently, MahaRERA Appellate Tribunal gave its much-awaited order in writing, in favor of home buyers by setting aside the earlier order by MahaRERA that Section 12 of RERA does not act retrospectively.
MahaRERA Appellate Tribunal gave order against Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. by stating that section 12 refers obligation to the developers to refund the amount paid and compensation in lieu of damage and loss caused with the reason of false advertisement, even when sales agreements were negotiated long before the Law came into force, it would apply retroactively.
BACKGROUND
The home buyers filed complaints in MahaRERA against the promoter because they failed to give the possession of the flat till 2017 and also failed to render amenities as assured to the allottees which were published in broacher, advertisement, and prospectus. Thus, the promoter committed a breach of Section 12 and section 18 of RERA.
MahaRERA observed that Section 12 of RERA does not act retrospectively and Section 12 is not attracted to the present transactions between parties which took place in the year 2012-13 much prior to the enactment of RERA.
CURRENT SENECIO
The home buyer had challenged the January 9, 2019 order of MahaRERA in the Appellate Tribunal.
MahaRERA Appellate Tribunal observation and ordered the following:
- It was observed that Section 12 establishes compensation by the developer to a person who suffers any loss or damage due to an incorrect or false statement included in a project advertisement or prospectus. It also provides a refund of the entire investment with interest if a buyer wishes to withdraw from the project when affected by the listing. Therefore, section 12 would go into effect even if buyers had reserved flats long before the RERA Act was passed.
- It has also informed that appellants to file a separate complaint before the AO of RERA for compensation in violation of sections 12, 14 and 18 under RERA.
- The appellate tribunal, also for the first time, directed the developer to return the VAT and service tax with an interest of 10.5 percent.
CONCLUSION
The court HC’s conclude that RERA has been framed in the public interest thus, section 18 would apply equally and retroactively or ‘Quasi-Retroactively’.
Disclaimer- The above article is based on the personal interpretation of related laws and judicial pronouncements, which may differ from person to person. The readers are expected to take expert advice before replying to the above article. The author can be reached at support@centrik.in
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