Countrywide Promoters faces fines from Haryana RERA for deceptive advertising.

According to an official, Countrywide Promoters Private Limited has been fined Rs 50 Lakh by the Gurugram court of the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA) for releasing a deceptive newspaper advertisement about its real estate project, Green Oaks.

The official further stated that the promoter received a show-cause notice from the government after it took serious notice of the advertisement that was published in an English daily on March 2.

In a formal statement, the authority noted that the promoter had failed to properly describe the details in the advertisement, in violation of Section 61 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act of 2016, despite mandatory provisions under Sections 11(2) and 13(1) of the Act.

“It is undeniably true that the promoter, Countrywide Promoters Pvt Ltd, published a deceptive advertisement in an attempt to prevent potential allottees from making an informed decision. Accordingly, under Section 61 of the Act 2016, the Authority today imposes a penalty in the sum of Rs 50 lakh,” the judgment stated.

One full page of the advertisement features a picture of a garden/park called Garden of Dreams, but the other page features an image of a club that isn’t related to the project.

“However, the remaining portion of the advertisement highlights features like a squash court, a cutting-edge club house, a covered pool and spa, an outdoor library, revitalizing sculpted rocks, a coffee lounge counter, and other amenities that are obviously not included in the project. All of it is deceptive,” the directive stated.

Under the Deen Dayal Jan Awas Yojna Affordable planned Housing Policy 2016, Countrywide Promoters Private Limited is building Green Oaks, an affordable planned colony in Sector 70-A, Gurugram. In 2021, the developer registered the project with RERA.

It is quite evident that the promoter has released a deceptive advertisement for a DDJAY planned colony, using seductive imagery to give the impression that the project includes a clubhouse and other amenities that are not actually included.

“Section 7(1)(A)(i) is violated in this case. The order stated that “no specifics, data, or illustrations of the project’s actual layout or site plan have been provided to enable the potential allottee to decide upon investing in the project.”
HRERA further stated that the promoter was unable to have the registration details updated in accordance with the new style.

The project began in 2021, and in 2023 the layout plan underwent revisions.