Punjab RERA Orders ATS Estates to Refund ₹57.22 Lakh to Homebuyers for ATS Golf Meadows Lifestyle, Mohali
Punjab RERA Directs Refund in ATS Golf Meadows Lifestyle Case
Punjab RERA, in an order dated December 2, 2025, directed refund of principal and interest to a complainant couple in connection with a residential unit booked in Tower No. 11 of the ATS Golf Meadows Lifestyle project in Mohali. The total refund amount, calculated as of November 30, 2025, came to approximately ₹57.22 lakh.
The Dispute and Timeline
The complainants had booked an apartment in January 2015 on the assurance that all statutory approvals were in place. A buyer's agreement executed in May 2018 promised possession by November 30, 2022. Despite the passage of several years beyond the promised possession date, construction of Tower No. 11 had not even commenced.
Authority's Key Finding
A central issue was whether the developer could rely on a later project completion date mentioned in RERA registration (September 1, 2026) to deny refund, when the buyer's agreement stipulated an earlier possession deadline and no construction activity had taken place in the allotted tower. Punjab RERA found that ATS had collected substantial sums from the complainants without undertaking any construction of the allotted tower, constituting a clear breach of contractual and statutory obligations, with the promoter's conduct demonstrating failure to perform its duties under the RERA Act and the buyer's agreement.
Developer's Contentions and the Authority's Response
ATS Estates contended that the project was duly registered under RERA and that the statutory completion date in Form-B should prevail, attributing delays to force majeure circumstances including the COVID-19 pandemic, and pointing out that assured rental payments of ₹64,000 had been made to the complainants. The Authority rejected this defence, finding the developer cannot compel buyers to accept extended timelines when construction of their allotted unit has not commenced.
Refund Amount and Enforcement
The Authority directed ATS Estates to refund the principal amount of ₹31.76 lakh along with interest at 10.85% per annum, calculated in accordance with Rule 16 of the Punjab Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Rules, 2017. The Authority further ordered that if the refund is not paid within the stipulated time, the amount shall be recoverable as arrears of land revenue under Section 40 of the RERA Act.
Background: ATS Infrastructure's Operations
ATS Infrastructure Limited, founded in 1998 by Getamber Anand, is an Indian real estate company. ATS operates across Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Yamuna Expressway, Indirapuram, Derabassi, Mohali and Dehradun. The group maintains a significant footprint in Punjab; ATS Golf Meadows is RERA registered with IDs PBRERA-SAS79-PR0007 and PR0543. The township includes a clubhouse, gym, swimming pool, mini-theater, sports courts, kids play areas, yoga deck, party lawn, retail shops, and more.
The RERA order underscores the Authority's stance that contractual obligations to buyers—particularly possession dates in buyer agreements—cannot be superseded by later-declared statutory timelines, especially when core construction activities remain incomplete.