DK Consumer forum orders imprisonment of building firm’s directors

DK Consumer forum orders imprisonment of building firm’s directors

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 8,2016: DK, Dakshina Kannada District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered five directors of a construction firm to undergo two years imprisonment on finding the firm guilty of not providing completion certificates to occupants of an apartment and not following its other directions.

The order is against Felix Sylvester Sequeira, Kenroy Arnold Sequeira, Romaldine Bernadine Seqeira, Macfel Francis Sequeira and Trysen Ryan Sequeira, who are directors of Mumbai-based Sequeira Star Home Builders. Each of the five directors has also been ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000 in each of the five cases filed by occupants of Star Legacy Apartment-1 in Kadri. The fine amount should be paid as compensation to the complainants, the forum said.

On the complaints filed by some occupants of the apartment, the forum in April 2013 directed the directors of the construction firm to provide completion certificates, proper door numbers and convey apartments to complainants with clear marketable title. The firm, among others, was also asked to repair defective flooring work, set right the problem of accumulation of water in the balcony, repair seepage in walls, provide landscaped garden, children play park and proper accounts for maintenance of the apartment.

The directors of the firm challenged this order before the State Consumer Redressal Commission, followed by the National Consumer Redressal Commission. Lastly they approached the Supreme Court that provided three months time to follow directions of the District Forum. As the firm failed to follow the directions, the complaints approached District Forum seeking imprisonment of firm’s directors under Section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act.

The District Forum comprising Asha Shetty and Lavanya M. Rai passed the order of imprisonment on August 11, 2016.