Stating that private builders and government development authorities cannot be equated, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) dismissed a review plea that challenged a price hike by the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) after being inducted into possession of a property.
“We note that there is a distinction between a private builder firm or company and a government development authority. The GDA is a government development authority. It works as per prescribed administrative, financial and technical rules laid down and prescribed by the government, and its accounts are subject to audit,” the NCDRC held.
The observations came while the apex consumer disputes redressal forum was hearing a plea that said despite paying the initial cost estimated by the GDA, the sale deed was not drawn in favour of complainant Brij Lal Singh.
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“He [the complainant] paid the originally estimated cost of ₹1,72,440 to the GDA. He was inducted into possession of the house. Subsequently, the final cost of the house was fixed at ₹2,51,214. He did not pay the difference between the estimated cost and final cost,” the NCDRCobserved.
The GDA, on the other hand, contended that its Vice-Chairman had the right to decide the final cost and the “subsequent increase in cost was absolutely correct”.
The consumer panel also took into account an affidavit stating that the consumer would “pay the amount decided by the authority”.
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Further, the consumer panel said, “It has nowhere been shown by the complainant that the GDA committed any infringement of any administrative, financial or technical rule in his case. Nor has it been shown by the complainant that the GDA has in any manner differentiated between him and other similar self financing schemes.”