Punjab RERA Directs ATS to Refund ₹57 Lakh to Two Homebuyers In ATS Golf Meadows Life Style Project

The Punjab Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has ordered ATS Estates Private Limited and ATS Infrastructure Limited to refund a little over Rs 57 lakh to two homebuyers, after finding that the developer did not live up to its contractual promises concering the ATS Golf Meadows Lifestyle project in Mohali .

The order was passed on December 2, 2025, by a coram headed by Chairman Rakesh Kumar Goyal. In the decision, the Authority observed that when a developer fails to hand over possession as promised in the buyer's agreement, homebuyers have an absolute right to walk out of the project and seek a full refund with interest.

The dispute arose from a flat booked by Vishal Goindi and Manisha Goindi in Tower No. 11 of the ATS Golf Meadows. They had booked the unit back in January 2015 after being assured that all statutory approvals were already in place. Later, a buyer's agreement signed in May 2018 committed to delivering possession by November 30, 2022.

That deadline came and went, and even four years later construction of the tower had still not started. Upset with the complete lack of progress, the buyers approached the Punjab Real Estate Regulatory Authority, asking for a refund of their principal investment of Rs 31.76 lakh, together with interest.

The central question before the Authority was whether the buyers could insist on a refund based on the possession date in the buyer's agreement, even though the project's RERA registration reflected a later completion date of September 2026.

On behalf of the homebuyers, counsel argued that the developer had collected substantial funds without undertaking any construction at all and had effectively acted in bad faith. It was contended that a promoter cannot fall back on a later RERA completion date to get around a clear contractual promise to hand over possession by 2022.

ATS Estates, for its part, maintained that the project was properly registered with RERA and that the statutory completion date of September 1, 2026, should govern the parties' rights. The company attributed the delay to reasons such as non‑payment of instalments by other buyers and force majeure events, including the COVID‑19 pandemic. It also pointed out that it had paid the complainants an assured rental of Rs 64 thousand.

The Authority was not persuaded by these explanations. It held that a promoter cannot force homebuyers to wait until the RERA completion date when the specific tower allotted to them has not been built within the agreed possession period.

The Authority also clarified that once a buyer opts for a refund instead of seeking possession, force majeure as a defence lose any importance.

Observing that ATS had not even started construction of the tower that had been allotted to the complainants, the Authority found that the developer had clearly breached its contractual duties.

Partly allowing the complaint, the authority dorected ATS Estates to refund the principal sum of Rs 31.76 lakh along with interest at 10.85% per annum which could come to Rs 57.22 lakh as on November 30, 2025.

The order further records that if the amount is not paid, it can be recovered as arrears of land revenue. 

Case Title: Col. Vishal Goindi & Anr. v. ATS Estates Pvt. Ltd. & Ors.

Case Number: GC No. 0014/2023

For Complainants: Advocate Kunal Thapa

For Respondents:  Advocate Hardeep Saini;  Advocate Varun Chawla ffor SBI

Click Here To Read/Download Order