Iyarappan B, president of the association, explained to media that before the Supreme Court took over, progress was being made on the projects, but construction has come to a halt since then. While he acknowledged that the court’s involvement wasn’t solely responsible, the delays have caused immense frustration, with no updates on the Chennai and Bengaluru projects.
Chennai: A homeowners’ association from Chennai, representing Unitech buyers, has written a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, urging him to address the long-delayed case concerning Unitech’s unfinished housing projects.
The letter, sent last week, highlights the “mental agony” faced by homebuyers due to the uncertainty surrounding the case’s status in the Supreme Court.
Iyarappan B, president of the association, explained to media that before the Supreme Court took over, progress was being made on the projects, but construction has come to a halt since then. While he acknowledged that the court’s involvement wasn’t solely responsible, the delays have caused immense frustration, with no updates on the Chennai and Bengaluru projects.
The letter follows the annual general meeting of the Uniworld Chennai Owners Association, which noted that eight Unitech projects are pending in Chennai and three in Bengaluru.
It states that nearly 13,000 families are enduring significant mental and financial distress, especially senior citizens who are facing additional vulnerabilities.
The letter appeals to the CJI, expressing hope that his leadership could bring an end to the prolonged ordeal. The association urges the Supreme Court to expedite the proceedings and provide relief to the struggling families.
BRIEF FACTS
The case concerning Unitech’s stalled projects has been pending in the Supreme Court since 2018. Though a new board took charge in 2020 following the Court’s directive, there has been little on-the-ground progress regarding construction. According to the new board’s website, although tenders were issued for 71 of 81 incomplete residential projects, construction has only begun on 29. For commercial sites, tenders for nine out of 10 sites were awarded, but only eight have seen work begin.
The original plan involved 18,786 residential units and 1,860 commercial units. Currently, about 10,000 homebuyers are still waiting for possession, with many demanding refunds instead.
In December 2023, the Supreme Court allowed the new board to issue tenders for construction work, but despite over a dozen listings, the case was only heard in April 2024. On that occasion, the Court resolved a dispute between Unitech’s new board and the Noida and Greater Noida authorities over dues clearance.
The association’s letter points out that the lack of results from the Court’s intervention has severely hampered construction. Every significant step in the building process now requires the Court’s approval, further delaying timelines and keeping homebuyers in a state of uncertainty.
The association also criticized the Court’s decision not to award compensation for delayed flat deliveries, despite the original construction agreements providing for such compensation. This has added to the financial burden of families who have been paying both EMIs and rent for years without relief.
Iyarappan noted that homebuyers were penalized for missing payment deadlines, but the SC’s order has deprived them of compensation for delays, unlike buyers dealing with other builders.
The association also raised concerns about the safety of the stalled buildings, which have been left incomplete for years. It urges the CJI to acknowledge the “severe distress” caused by the delays and intervene to expedite the hearing process, emphasizing the need for a timely verdict to restore public faith in the judicial system.
