RERA bar the original jurisdiction of NCDRC
Image Source - http://www.gaming-asylum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/32490-s2-real-estate-couple-of-houses/

In this article, Nawlendu Bhushan of Campus Law Centre discusses whether RERA bars the original jurisdiction of NCDRC or not.

Introduction

In order to ensure accountability towards allottees and protect their interest as well as infuse transparency, ensure fair play and reduce delays the Government has passed the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (hereinafter “the Act”). A common issue faced by the homebuyers after passing of the new real estate law is regarding the place where they have to approach for getting their grievances settled. Either the Consumer Forum or the Real Estate Tribunal. The article clears the doubt.

Aggrieved homebuyers and RERA

Section 31 of the Act states that any aggrieved person may file a complaint with the Authority for any violation or contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder against any promoter allottee or real estate agent. It explains that the word “person” includes an association of allottees and any voluntary consumer association.

In case of any structural defect or defect in quality or provision for services as per agreement for sale, the allottees are entitled to get it rectified by the promoter within thirty days of the complaint. Allottees can bring such complaints within five years from the date of possession. In case the promoter fails to rectify the defects, allottees can claim compensation by filing a complaint to the RERA.  

Download Now

So, an aggrieved homebuyer or allottee may file a complaint against any promoter or real estate agent in case they violate their obligations fixed by the Act.

The Real Estate Appellate Tribunal

Any person or the Appropriate Government aggrieved by any direction or decision or order made by the Authority or by an adjudicating officer under this Act may prefer an appeal before the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal. Such tribunals are to be established by the Appropriate Governments. The appeal can be made within a period of 60 days from passing of the direction or decision or order.

The tribunal is guided by the principles of natural justice. Orders made by the Appellate Tribunal are executable as a decree of a Civil Court.

Appeal against decision or order of the tribunal lies in the High Court.

NCDRC and its jurisdiction in case of foul play by promoters

The National Consumer Dispute Resolution Commission (NCDRC)  is established under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Apart from having an appellate jurisdiction against the orders of any State Commission, the NCDRC has original jurisdiction in entertaining complaints where the value of goods or services or compensation exceeds INR 1 crore.

The Supreme Court and NCDRC have already made it clear that a group of consumers having a common interest or common grievance and seeking a similar relief against the same person can come together without forming any association to file a case in NCDRC with a claim of INR 1 crore or more. Consumers can approach the district forum if their claim is not above INR 20 lakh and the state commission if their claim is in the range of INR 20 lakh to INR 1 crore.[1]

Does RERA bar the original jurisdiction of NCDRC?

An aggrieved person has two options to seek redressal for his grievances one to approach the RERA and the other to approach appropriate consumer forum. In case, the individual claim is less than INR 1 crore, the homebuyer can bring his claim to the NCDRC along with other homebuyers seeking similar relief from the same person if the aggregate claim exceeds INR 1 crore. But, only upcoming and ongoing projects fall within the ambit of the RERA. For existing projects where completion certificate has been granted only appropriate consumer forum has jurisdiction.

Most of the States’ legislations related to the RERA has an express clause that for filing a complaint to the RERA, the complainant has to ensure that no other complaint is pending in any other court or Authority. This restricts the options for aggrieved homebuyers as well as reduces the chance of multiple litigations on the same cause.

To appreciate which is a better forum, RERA or NCDRC, let’s compare the power, process and efficiency of these two.[2]

NCDRC RERA
Jurisdiction
  • Pecuniary: Only above INR 1 crore.
  • Any matter of consumer interest
  • Association of buyers with total claim more than INR 1 crore may file a joint complaint.
  • Covers all the projects.
  • No pecuniary limit.
  • Only real estate projects
  • Complaint is filed to the Authority of the State where property is located
  • Covers only upcoming and ongoing projects.
How complaint is filed On a plain paper with requisite fee On a prescribed form given in the State Legislations with requisite fee
Who can complain Only allottees or association of allottees Promoters, real estate agents, allottees or their association
How cognisance is taken
  • Only on a complaint.
  • No suo motu proceedings.
  • Can not conduct an enquiry.
  • Can act on a complaint or take suo-motu notice.
  • Can conduct an enquiry.
Ease of filing a case
  • Application on plain paper, with documentary evidence
  • Can be filed at district, state or national level, based on the claim amount, but as real estate is expensive, it may lead to overloading at the national level
  • Only registered associations of purchasers and allottees can file complaints
  • Specifies forms, apart from documentary evidence
  • Can be filed at the regional or state level
  • Individual claimants can file complaints
The success of litigation
  • Cannot imprison a developer but can award a fine.
  • Good past record of litigation
  • Can imprison an errant developer up to three years, or prescribe a fine, or both
  • No past precedence, as yet
Appellate System
  • Supreme Court in case of order of NCDRC
  • NCDRC in case of order of State Commission
  • State Commission in case of District Consumer forum
  • Real Estate Regulatory Tribunal, for grievances against the order of the Authority
  • High Court in case of order of the Tribunal

Conclusion

From the above comparison, it is clear that an aggrieved allottee of a project, where completion certificate has been granted, can approach the NCDRC or appropriate consumer forum only. Aggrieved allottees of an ongoing or upcoming project have both the options available. The provisions in the State enactments, which put a condition on the filing of a complaint that no complaint should be pending, make it clear that the aggrieved can choose only one recourse. In this way, the Act does not bar the original jurisdiction of the NCDRC but ensures minimum litigation on the same matter. Considering past records of the consumer courts and faster finality of NCDRC order (only one stage of appeal) against the backdrop of the real estate specific jurisdiction of the RERA, stricter penal provisions in the Act, it can be inferred that choosing either of the two depends upon the future course of litigations in the RERA.

References

[1]http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/real-estate/ncdrc-restricts-complaints-to-rwas-here-are-the-legal-options-for-homebuyers-2274327.html (Date of visit 20/02/2018, time of visit 12:35 IST)

[2]https://housing.com/news/rera-versus-ncdrc-will-protect-home-buyers-better/(Date of visit 20/02/2018, time of visit 12:35 IST)

1 COMMENT

  1. Most of the cases in consumer forums are against builders ,but either they don’t appear or take time for one or the other reason to delay the proceedings .Because of large number of cases ,the dates are given after many months ,on which date also it is not sure if the case will be heard for one or the other reason .Then preliminery objections are taken initially ,which should be allowed to be taken in reply only which must be filed in 30days + 15 days grace period .in case acts of builders are against agreed terms on record ,the matter should be heard and decision should be given .There should be restrictions on appeals /revisions in some kinds of cases , as otherwise it is taking almost 10 years to get a final decision ,which hampers the interest of consumer . In case of availability of many courts in any consumer forum ,all the cases of similar nature like against builders should be placed before same bench ,which can help in speedy disposal of case and identical matters having same point can be heard together . To provide relief to customers of builders ,in RERA also the complaints against builders of completed projects should have been allowed ,which to some extent would have reduced cases against builders in Consumer Forum . Otherwise also RERA would be more beneficial ,as complaints can be filed within 5 years as against in 2 years in Consumer Forum

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here