Stringent guidelines needed to prevent misleading advertisements by builders
Coimbatore Consumer Cause has appealed to the Union Ministry of Urban Development and also the Ministry of Law and Justice to evolve stringent guidelines that will prevent the release of misleading advertisements by builders and real estate promoters with regard to the approval status of buildings and sites.In recent letters to both the ministries, secretary of the consumer body K. Kathirmathiyon said that when the authorities concerned come across such misleading advertisements, they should inform the public through the appropriate medium that these were illegal.Stressing the need for bringing into effect early such guidelines, the letters pointed out that the Supreme Court recently issued notices to the Central and State Governments on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL)petition, seeking national guidelines to check misleading and false advertisement.To capitalise on the real estate boom, some builders or real estate promoters were making a false claim without obtaining any approval from the appropriate authority that their projects had got it.
Buyers who were not aware of the procedure landed in problems after the purchase of property. When the buildings were also assessed for Property Tax, the people were led to think that these were approved.Mr. Kathrimathiyon said the PIL was filed when some builders and developers in the northern States were accused of misleading the people with advertisements that claimed that their projects were approved by the authorities concerned. The authorities had denied approval for the projects. Mere denial of approval would not be sufficient. The people should be made aware of this position so that they did not fall a prey to such advertisements.Mr. Kathirmathiyon also referred to the claims of approvals by local bodies in Coimbatore, while only the Local Planning Authority had the powers to approve layouts or projects.
The consumer activist suggested that all the advertisements by real estate developers and builders must carry the approval details of their project, including the approval number, date and the official who gave the approval. Promoters or developers could lend credibility to their advertisements this way. The competent authorities should take criminal action against the promoters / builders suo motu, if any false and misleading information about the approval was provided in the form of advertisements.The officials should inform the public immediately through media about the misleading advertisements.The approving authorities should provide the details of all the approvals accorded for the development of land / construction of houses on the website. This would help the people verify the genuineness of the claim of approvals.
