It happened in Thenkasi, Thirunelveli District in the year 2007. The story goes like this.

In the year 1973 the Tamil Nadu Government introduced land ceiling act and according to which the Government acquires 16 acres of land from a particular person with due compensation. The Government hands over part of the land to a particular party in the year 1975. The land is transfer three times between the period from 1975 and 2004.

In the year 2007 another party wishes to procure the land from the present owner but failed to apply for EC on the day of deed, presuming that all documents are original and without any encumbrance. The problem is planted here.

When a need arises he applies for EC in 2009 and he was shell shocked to notice that the piece of land was already Sold in the year 2006 by the very same person from whom the land was acquired by the Government. The issue is still complicated as the seller is since deceased.

The party who procured the land happens to be an influential person in politics and he has purchased the land knowing all details fully well. He approaches the court and the court in turn asks him to produce documents which are hard to get from authorities, such as land acquisition documents, handing over of part of property to another person in the year 1975, the death certificate, legal heir certificate etc.

After going up and down of the steps of the courts, he was referred to Tristar who preferred reconciliation method rather than confrontation. The Company mediated between the parties and amicably settled the issue much to the relief of the buyer. Tristar strongly believe in conciliation and is successful in many cases. After all court should be the last resort, before which one has to try other methods as well.

This happened in the year 2007 and the person subjected to injustice is an NRI living in USA. The NRI person wanted to purchase two plots on OMR, Pallikaranai village and entrusted the responsibility to his father in law (FIL) in Chennai. The FIL approached a broker who had arranged two plots at very reasonable price. The registration document was prepared by the broker, which contained original patta signed in green ink and up to date EC. Believing his sweet words and without consulting any professional in the field or a lawyer the FIL got the deeds registered.

It was only after a year when the FIL applied for ‘Patta name change’ through a broker that the truth propped out much to the shock of FIL. The broker took money for his proposed service but stopped attending his calls. The FIL approached another broker for double the service charge and he too did the same thing after getting 50% advance payment.

Finally the FIL directly approached the VAO on a Friday when he learnt that the Patta in the name of seller and attached with the document was fake. He was also informed that those particular plots came under “Urban Land Limit”, belonging to Tamil Nadu Government.

Both FIL and the NRI ran from pillar to post but could not get the issue solved. At last they were guided to approach Tristar. who in turn took up the case and resolved the issue successfully through ‘Government Innocent Buyers Scheme’ along with Patta and FMB sketch.

There are cases where even highly educated people can be duped! Here is a case involving two people purchasing the same plot, without doubting the scheming idea of the seller.

In the year 2008, a well educated person working in a big Company purchased four plots in Sivasakthi Nagar, Padappai He totally relied on a broker and one of his office staffs for the entire deal. He also got 15 stone pillars installed around the plots as marking stones and painted the plot numbers.

Last Month when he visited the site he was curious to find a mobile number inscribed on the stone pillar. Presuming that the number belongs to some real estate person, he called the number only to find that he had also purchased one of the four plots. He also came to know that the person owns a factory and well educated. They realized that they were duped by the seller as both claim to be the owner for the same plot.

Had they approached a professional before buying or at least got the documents verified by competitive people they could have escaped from this ordeal. They have now Approached Tristar.