The homebuyers came together and filed the petition in the Bombay High Court, after the builder allegedly failed to give them possession
The ongoing conflict between several homebuyers and top builder HDIL has reached the courthouse once more, with 141 aggrieved homebuyers filing a writ petition in the Bombay High Court earlier this week.
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HDIL complex on LBS Marg, Kurla. File pic
The move comes after the builder’s advocate recently claimed in court that mediation would be limited to Aejaz Saiyed, who had filed the first writ petition against the builder.
The homebuyers objected to this limitation, and filed the second petition collectively, which is expected to come up for hearing next week. Saiyed, in his petition, told the high court that he had booked a flat in the realty major’s Premier Residences project in Kurla (West) in 2009, but didn’t get possession.
When the matter came up for hearing, the court directed both parties to sit across the table and solve the matter amicably. But the parties failed to arrive at a solution, after which a mediator was appointed. But with the builder insisting on mediation only with one petitioner, the remaining buyers decided to file a petition.
“I am one of the 141 homebuyers that have filed the writ petition. There are a lot of issues that need the builder’s intervention, but they are just not bothered about anything and are reluctant to give us our homes.
We will continue the fight, as their demands are illegal,” said Krishnan Venkatesh, a homebuyer who purchased a flat in the project.
Shabnam Latiwala, advocate for the homebuyers, said, “The homebuyers have lodged a civil writ petition seeking directions from the court that the government should appoint somebody to ensure that they are not taken for a ride.
The developers many a time promise a lot of things but take advantage of the homebuyers’ plight by not giving them possession and demanding extra money.
If the petition doesn’t get us relief, then a criminal writ petition for cheating will also be filed against the developers.” When we contacted the HDIL spokesperson, he said he would get in touch with us, but he did not reply.