SC warns builders against ‘seducing gullible buyers’

As thousands of home buyers anxiously await possession of their flats in the national capital region (NCR), the Supreme Court on Friday warned real estate companies against launching huge projects flouting environmental norms and “seducing gullible buyers”.

As thousands of home buyers anxiously await the possession of their flats in the national capital region (NCR), the Supreme Court on Friday warned real estate companies against launching huge projects that flout environmental norms and “seducing gullible buyers”.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur indicated that it may insist on prior environmental clearance rather than post-facto approvals for all real estate projects

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur indicated that it may insist on prior environmental clearance rather than post-facto approvals for all real estate projects.

“You people (builders) are constructing huge projects without any clearances and then selling it to people who later crowd around the court demanding that they be given possession…You are misleading people, seducing them to buy such flats on one hand and on the other destroying the environment,” Justice Thakur said.

The court indicated that it may restore an earlier National Green Tribunal (NGT) order disallowing real estate builders from getting such post-facto approvals.

The NGT in July last year quashed an environment ministry circular that allowed post-facto clearances, but it was subsequently stayed last year by a bench headed by then CJI H L Dattu.

On Friday, the SC said it would reconsider stay order and posted the matter for hearing on January 22.