Today(13th August), The Supreme Court of India imposed a Rs.2 crore penalty on the Sahara Group for repeatedly failing to comply with a court order in a homebuyers’ dispute. This fine includes Rs.10 lakh per company and Rs.5 lakh per director.
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NEW DELHI: Today(13th August), The Supreme Court of India imposed a substantial penalty on the Sahara Group for its repeated failure to comply with a court order related to a dispute involving homebuyers. The apex court has imposed fines amounting to Rs.2 crore, to be paid by the Sahara Group’s companies and its top directors.
Heavy Penalties for Sahara Group Companies and Directors
The bench, comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta, ordered ten companies of the Sahara Group to each pay a fine of Rs.10 lakh. Additionally, the Court directed the top 20 directors of these companies to each pay a penalty of Rs.5 lakh. These fines were imposed due to the companies’ failure to adhere to a previous order concerning the provision of flats to certain buyers.
Supreme Court’s Directive to Contribute to Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund
The penalties, amounting to a total of Rs.2 crore, have been earmarked for the Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The funds are intended to aid in the restoration efforts following the recent landslides in Wayanad, a region that has been severely affected by natural disasters. The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of timely compliance with its orders, noting that the Sahara Group had been given multiple opportunities to fulfill its obligations.
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Repeated Non-Compliance Leads to Strict Action
The case dates back to October 2023, when the Supreme Court had issued a directive to the Sahara Group companies, mandating them to furnish flats to certain homebuyers who had been waiting for their homes for an extended period. Despite being given six opportunities to comply with the Court’s order, the companies failed to meet the requirements set forth by the judiciary. This persistent non-compliance ultimately led the Court to take strict action by imposing the hefty fines.
During the hearing, the bench expressed its displeasure at the Sahara Group’s continued disregard for the Court’s order.
“Despite being given six opportunities, the companies failed to comply.”
– noted the bench, highlighting the repeated delays and lack of cooperation from the Sahara Group.
