Section 71 of the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016 confers power upon an Adjudicating Officer to adjudge compensation under Sections 12, 14, 18 and 19. Sub-section (3) of Section 71 provides that if the Adjudicating Officer is satisfied that the person has failed to comply with the provisions of any of the sections specified in Sub-section (1) he may direct to pay such compensation or interest, as the case may be, as he thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of any of those sections.
Section 38(1) of the Act, 2016 confers power upon the ‘Authority‘ to impose penalty or interest in regard to contravention of obligations cast upon the promoters, the allottees and the real estate agents under the Act, Rules and Regulations. Power to award compensation or interest has been conferred under Section 71(1)/(3) of the Act, 2016 upon an Adjudicating Officer for adjudging compensation under Section 12, 14, 18 and Section 19 of the Act, 2016. Thus, the power to adjudge compensation has been conferred upon the Adjudicating Officer and not upon the Authority.