st July 20092
petitioner at last got issued a notice to the respondents and they sent a reply. The
seed purchased by the petitioner was 12 Kgs on 10-11-2006 under bill No. nil from
R1. Therefore, the complaint was filed for Rs. 45,000/- per acre and Rs. 5,000/-
towards cultivation charges totaling Rs. 50,000/- and Rs. 5,000/- towards deficiency
of service and Rs. 10,000/- towards costs.
3. The respondents filed a counter that the petitioner purchased seed from
R1 and selling to the farmers. The petitioner purchased for business. The minimum
seed required per one acre was 8 Kgs. It was mentioned in Agricultural Panchangam
2005-06 at page 57 to 59 published by Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University,
Hyderabad. The complainant was not a consumer because he was doing business.
4. The complainant cultivated Ac. 1.80 cents to which he required 16 Kgs
Black Gram. He had no basic knowledge of cultivation of Black Gram. One could
not expect a minimum yield when the required quantity of seed was not used for
sowing. So Rs. 10,000/- per acre towards cultivation was not correct. The required
expenditure for cultivation per acre was Rs. 1,660/-. The crop was not a main crop
but an intermediary crop. The period of crop was 85 days. The flowering would
start from 35 to 45 days. The yield would be 2 to 5 quintals depending upon various
factors. Normally the average rate per quintal would be Rs. 2,500/- and it would
vary from Rs. 2,000/- to Rs. 3,000/-. It was not correct that the R1 gave a wrong
direction that the crop would be good in the month of November. It was not correct
that the seed supplied by R2 to R1 was defective and substandard. The respondents
came to know that the complainant got good yield and sold in the market at
Proddatur. The respondents had no knowledge about representation to the Asst.
Director of Agriculture and Panchayat Secretary and they inspected the land and
crop growth and issuing of the opinion. The respondents were never intimated by
Agriculture Department. During the crop season the complainant did not make any
allegations against the respondents and the crop growth was good. There were no
allegations about variety of the crop. The germination and genetic purity were good.
C.C. No. 42 of 20093
Regarding the defect in germination and genetic purity it had to be intimated within 7
days i.e. period required for germination and within 35 to 45 days i.e the period
required for flowering. As the yield was good, there was no complant. The
respondents received a notice after 4 months. The reply notice was issued by the
respondents immediately. There was no complaint from others, who purchased the
same seed. The Mandal Agricultural Officer gave a list of farmers. The Mandal
Agricultural Officer had not alleged any defect of the seed. He visited after
completion of crop season. The certificate of the panchayat Secretary need not be
considered. The yielding of crop was on the basis of water, pest control, virus,
sudden climatic changes and manures. The complainant did not file the seed
analysis report. The certificates issued by the Agricultural officer and V.A.O, were
without any evidence of quality of seed. The seed purchased by the complainant was
not sufficient. There was no deficiency or negligence on the part of the respondents.
Thus the complaint may be dismissed with costs.
5. On the basis of the above pleadings the following points are settled for
determination.
i. Whether there is any negligence and deficiency of service on the
part of the respondents?
ii. Whether the complainant is entitled to the relief as prayed for?
iii. To what relief?
6. On behalf of the complainant Ex. A1 to A5 were marked and on behalf of
the respondents Ex. B1 to B4 were marked.
7. Point No. 1 & 2 The complainant purchased 12 Kgs of Black Gram LBG
645 variety seed under lot No. 164 @ Rs. 380/- per packet of 4Kgs. The quantity of
seed purchased by the complainant was 12 Kgs from R1 on 10-11-2006 for
Rs. 1,140/-. Ex. A1 was the bill issued by R1. The R2 was producer of Black Gram
seed. The duration of the crop was 85 days. After sowing the seed in November 2006
it was grown well in the land but it had no flowers and pods. The petitioner spent
Rs. 10,000/- per acre towards fertilizers, pesticides, land preparation and weeding.
C.C. No. 42 of 20094
The petitioner contended that he purchased seed under wrong advice given by R1
that the crop in the month of November would grow with good yield. Even, after
taking all precautions there was no yield. The reasons were the seed was defective
and substandard. If the seed was not defective and good seed the yield would be 10
to 15 quintals per acre. In the complaint at para – 6 it was disclosed that the Asst.
Director of Agriculture, Muddanoor and Panchayat Secretary inspected the crop and
gave their opinion. But either the opinion or the report of the Asst. Director of
Agriculture was not filed. The complainant filed Ex. A2 a copy of list of farmers
grown Black Gram LBG 645 variety in Yamavaram village of Muddanoor Mandal
issued by Mandal Agriculture Officer, Muddanoor in which the total extent with
survey Nos. and purchase of seed with bill No. and date from R2 by the complainant
was mentioned. Ex. A3 was statement of Panchayat Secretary, Yamavaram that the
farmers shown in the list had raised Black Gram crop in their lands. But there was
no yield. In the statement Ex. A3, it was disclosed the names of farmers and survey
Nos. extent and quantity of seed purchased with bills Nos. and dates. Ex. A3 was
counter signed by Tashildar, Muddanoor as the Black Gram crop did not give good
yield. The complainant got issued a notice along with other farmers to both the
respondents to pay compensation. The office copy of the notice was Ex. A4. Ex. A4
included the reply notice from both the respondents. Ex. A5 was copy of adangal
extract.
8. The respondents filed Ex. B1 and B2 the reply notice issued to t he
complainant. The same were filed by the complainant along with office copy of the
notice as Ex. A4. The respondents filed Ex. B3 statement of some other farmers
with their pattadar passbooks in Xerox copies that the Black Gram seed LBG 645
variety gave good yield and hence, it was not a substandard seed. They filed Ex. B4 a
Xerox copy of literature of Black Gram seed and various varieties of seed including
LBG 645. Under Ex. B4 the duration of the crop was 85 to 90 days and the yield per
acre would be around 8 to 10 quintals. In Ex. B4 the method of cultivation including
C.C. No. 42 of 20095
application of pesticides and fertilizers and quality of both of them and quantity of
seed required per acre in dry land during the month of October has been mentioned.
During Rabi season, the time for sowing was October for dry land and for wet land it
was November and the quantity of seed per acre in the dry land was 6.4 Kgs to 7.2
Kgs and in the wet land it was 16 Kgs. The land of the complainant was dry land
and so the crop should be raised in October and not during November and the
required seed was 6.4 Kgs to 7.2 Kgs per acre. But in the present case the Black
Gram LBG 645 variety was sown in November 2006 instead of October 2006 and for
the entire extent of land of the complainant, the petitioner purchased 12 Kgs but the
required quantity was 12 Kgs to 14 Kgs. So the complainant raised the crop in his
entire land with 12 Kgs only. However, he did not get the required quantity of yield of
8 to 10 quintals per acre as mentioned in Ex. B4 literature. In addition to it was not
mentioned anywhere in the complaint about the quantity received by the
complainant in previous years. He did not file any scrap of paper regarding purchase
of fertilizers, pesticides. In its absence it is clear that the complainant did not apply
any quantity of fertilizers or pesticides to the crop as shown in Ex. B4. There was no
calculation arrived for Rs. 50,000/- towards compensation. As soon as the
complainant had an idea that there were no pods to the plant, he would have taken
the report of the Asst. Director of Agriculture about the stage of the crop and defects
in the crop. He did not file the report of Asst. Director of Agriculture. The
respondents also did not file the analysis report regarding the germination of the
seed. There was no proper report from any laboratory or an expert in agriculture. It
could not be said that the seed in question was defective as reported in 2009 CTJ
740 (CP) (NCDRC) Gyan Chandra Sharada Vs. Prabhari Sachiv Kshetriya Sadhan
Sahkari Samiti and others. When the complainant mentioned in para – 6 of the
complaint that the Asst. Director of Agriculture and Panchayat Secretary inspected
the crop, it was his duty to file their report regarding the stage of crop and defects in
not getting yield. The complainant did not file at least the empty packet of the seed
C.C. No. 42 of 20096
to show when the seed was packed and when the date would be expired and its lot
Nos. The loss of crop was on various factors like excess water, rains, climatic
conditions and not using fertilizers and pesticides as mentioned in the concerned
literature and whether there was any disease to the crop. In its absence they could
not say that the Black Gram seed was defective and substandard. The seed was
defective was not proved by the complainant through the Department of Agriculture.
Hence, the points are answered accordingly.
9. Point No. 3 In the result, the complaint is dismissed without costs.
Dictated to the Stenographer, transcribed by him, corrected and pronounced
by us in the open forum, this the 01
MEMBER MEMBER PRESIDENT
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
Witnesses examined.
For Complainant NIL For Respondent : NIL
Exhibits marked for Complainant : -
Ex. A1 Cash / Credit bill issued by R1, dt. 10-11-2006.
Ex. A2 Copy of list issued by Mandal Agriculture Officer, Muddanoor, dt. 2-2-07.
Ex. A3 Copy of list issued by Tahsildar, Muddanoor Mandal, dt 21-4-2007.
Ex. A4 Office copy of legal notice from complainant’s advocate to respondents,
dt. 28-2-2007.
Ex. A5 X/c of pattadar passbook and adangal extract of the complainant.
Exhibits marked for Respondents: -
Ex. B1 X/c of reply notice from R2’s advocate to complainant’s advocate,
dt. 9-3-2007.
Ex. B2 X/c of reply notice from R1’s advocate to complainant’s advocate,
dt. 23-3-2007.
Ex. B3 X/c of statement of some ryots with X/c of pattadar passbooks,
dt. 19-3-2007 and 20-3-2007.
Ex. B4 X/c of literature i.e. cultivation of Black Gram seeds.
MEMBER MEMBER PRESIDENT
Copy to :-
1) Sri P. Sekhar Reddy, Advocate.
2) Sri K. Guru Murthy, Advocate.
1) Copy was made ready on :
2) Copy was dispatched on :
3) Copy of delivered to parties :
B.V.P. - - -
C.C. No. 42 of 2009st July 2009
CONSUMER COMPLAINT No. 42 / 2009
Muddanur Mandal, Kadapa District. ….. Complainant.
Vs.
9/532, Mydukur Road, Proddatur town.
2) M/s Sri Lakshmi Seeds Corporation, D.No. 54-B-35,
Plot No. 30, J.Auto Nagar, Vijayawada. ….. Respondents.
presence of Sri P. Sekhar Reddy, Advocate for complainant and Sri K. Guru Murthy,
(Per Sri P.V. Nageswara Rao, President),
1. Complaint filed under section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act 1986.
2. The brief facts of the complaint is as follows:- The petitioner sowed Black
gram seed in November 2006 purchased from R1 produced by R2. The duration of
the crop was 85 days and the growth of crop was good. But it had no flowers and
pods. The petitioner followed all precautions and spent Rs. 10,000/- per acre
towards cultivation expenses, fertilizers, pesticides and weeding and seed cost for his
lands of Ac. 1.80 cents in survey No. 8/4. The R1 gave a wrong direction to the
petitioner that the variety of seed would grow in November. Thus the petitioner
purchased the seed and crop was grown in November. The seed was defective and
substandard for germination. If the seed was perfect and the respondents gave
proper directions the petitioner would get 10 to 15 quintals yield per acre. Due to
supply of substandard seed the petitioner had a loss of Rs. 45,000/- per acre. The
petitioner represented to the Asst. Director of Agriculture, Muddanoor and Panchayat
Secretary of the village. They inspected the crop and gave their opinion. The