Rera orders builder to refund charges, secure completion certificates

Mohali: The Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera) has directed a builder to refund excess maintenance charges of Rs 5.45 lakh collected from allottees and obtain mandatory Completion and Occupation Certificates, while allowing a complaint filed by a residents’ body.The authority also ordered the builder to provide all promised amenities as per the project brochure and refund charges collected for excess area.The case was brought by the residents’ welfare association (RWA) of the housing society, alleging deficiencies and non-compliance by the builder. The authority allowed the plea and issued a series of directions in favour of the residents.Advocate Mohd Sartaj Khan, representing the complainants, termed the verdict a major victory for allottees in the case involving Col Romesh Ghai and others against the builders of the project.He said the district consumer disputes redressal commission, Ropar (camp at Mohali), had earlier partly allowed the complaint on Feb 6, 2026, and issued several directions.According to the order, the builder must secure Completion and Occupation Certificates and refund excess maintenance charges collected from buyers until these certificates are obtained.The commission noted that the complainants had paid for a super area of 5,110 sq ft, while the actual delivered area was 4,769 sq ft. It directed the builder to refund charges for the excess 342 sq ft.The builder has also been asked to pay 12% annual interest on the sale consideration from the date of filing of the complaint until the mandatory certificates are obtained. In addition, litigation costs of Rs 75,000 were awarded to the complainants, with directions to comply within 45 days.The allottees, Col Romesh Ghai and Shaheen Ghai, welcomed the verdict, calling it a significant win for residents. The case was pursued by advocates Mohd Sartaj Khan and Luv Malhotra under provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.