 "SC asks Unitech to deposit Rs 15 cr for delayed flats")
The company told the court through its counsel it was ready to pay rent for alternative accommodation of the aggrieved home buyers.
"We appreciate the concern of customers. They can take alternative accommodation. We will pay the rent," senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is representing Unitech, told the court.
More From This Section
The bench of Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit asked whether buyers would move from one rented accommodation to another and told the company to deposit the money so that buyers could at least recover the amounts they had paid the company.
"Unitech's counsel argued the benchmark at most could be loss of rental of the apartment for the period. Unitech is relieved with the order passed by the Supreme Court since it has agreed to consider all issues on merit," the company said in a statement.
The bench agreed to hear Unitech's appeal against a National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission order awarding interest as compensation to home buyers for the delayed delivery. The court listed the matter for hearing in October, 2016.
The court directed the company to deposit Rs 5 crore in its registry within two weeks and Rs 10 crore by the end of September to pay back 38 buyers.
Over two dozen home buyers of Unitech's housing projects in Noida and Gurgaon had approached the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission after the builder failed to hand over flats on schedule.
The commission had asked the real estate company to refund the money to the home buyers with interest.
The Supreme Court last month asked Unitech to deposit an interim penalty of Rs 5 crore after the company challenged the order of the consumer forum.
The court had said the penalty amount would be awarded to buyers or returned to Unitech depending on the outcome of the case.