India, May 31 -- In 2022, Ramesh Mehta booked an under-construction apartment in Pune. His builder-buyer agreement stated that each instalment would be due on "completion of the corresponding construction milestone or 60 days from the date of booking, whichever is earlier." The second instalment was tied to the completion of the first-floor slab. However, the builder demanded payment just 60 days after booking, even though the slab work hadn't started. Since the clause allowed it, Mehta was forced to pay despite no visible progress. Later, construction stalled for months, leaving him financially strained with no assurance of timely possession.

This example highlights the importance of thoroughly understanding all aspects of the purchase,...