Punjab

Ludhiana

CC/21/416

Pinki - Complainant(s)

Versus

Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Ltd - Opp.Party(s)

Ajay Chawla Adv

26 Oct 2022

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, LUDHIANA.

                                                Complaint No: 416 dated 08.09.2021.                                                        Date of decision: 26.10.2022. 

 

Pinki wife of Ramji, C/o. Mohinder Singh Multani, Kohara, Ludhiana.                                                                                             ..…Complainant

                                                Versus

1. Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Limited having its registered office at Mangal Jyoti-101, 227/2, AJC Boss Road, Kolkata (West Bengal)-700020 through its Chairman/President/Authorized Representative.   
2. Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Limited having its authorized centre at Sahara India Pariwar, F.C. Office, 4372, Ground Floor, Swarn Complex, Gaispur Road, Lohara, Ludhiana.                                                                                                                       …..Opposite parties 

Complaint Under Section 35 of the Consumer Protection Act.

QUORUM:

SH. K.K. KAREER, PRESIDENT

SH. JASWINDER SINGH, MEMBER

 

COUNSEL FOR THE PARTIES:

For complainant             :         Sh. Ajay Chawla, Advocate.

For OPs                          :         Sh. Sandeep Kumar, Advocate.

 

ORDER

PER K.K. KAREER, PRESIDENT

1.                In brief, the case of the complainant is that in the month of July 2018, on the representative of agent of the OPs, the complainant invested/deposited Rs.13,000/- who issued certificate No.43800031797, account No.60657400359 and membership No.6606588000260. The date of maturity of the said deposit was 25.07.2020. After the date of maturity, the complainant approached the OPs for the payment but the OPs were not in position to pay the maturity amount to the complainant. This amounts to deficiency of service on the part of the OPs. In the end, it has been requested that the OPs be directed to refund the amount of Rs.13,000/- with interest and compensation of Rs.5,00,000/-.

2.                The complaint has been resisted by the OPs. In the written statement filed by the OPs, it has been, inter alia, pleaded that the complaint is not maintainable and the same is barred under the provisions of  the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Since the complainant is a member of the society and thus, there is a relationship of member and the society between the parties and, therefore, as per Section 84, 105 and 117 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, this Commission has no jurisdiction to entertain and decide any matter between the member and the society as the jurisdiction of any court is barred under Section 117 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. On merits, it has been admitted that the complainant deposited the amount with OP1 and OP2 from time to time. In fact, for getting maturity benefits, the complainant was to fulfill certain formalities which were not fulfilled by the complainant due to which the amount could not be released. Thus, there has been no deficiency of service on the part of the OPs. The rest of the averments made in the complaint have been denied as wrong and in the end, a prayer for dismissal of the complaint has been made.

3.                At the time of filing the complaint, the complainant submitted her affidavit as Ex. CA along with documents Ex. C1 and Ex. C2.  

4.                Along with the written statement, the OPs submitted affidavit as Ex. RA of Sh. Shiv Ram Gupta, authorized person of the OPs.

5.                We have heard the counsel for the parties and have also gone through the record.

6.                As per the evidence on record, more particularly Ex. C2, it is evident that the complainant deposited/invested Rs.13,000/- with the OPs on 25.07.2018 and this deposit was to mature on 25.07.2020 and a sum of Rs.16,307/- was payable to the complainant on the date of maturity amount. This amount was admittedly not paid by the OPs to the complainant when she approached the OPs after the date of maturity. This amounts to deficiency of service on the part of the OPs. In the given circumstances, it would be just and proper if the OPs are made to refund the maturity amount of Rs.16,307/- along with interest @7% per annum  from 25.07.2020 till date of actual payment along with composite costs and compensation of Rs.7,000/-. 

7.                The counsel for the OPs has argued that the complainant is not covered under the definition of the consumer as the complainant is only a member of the OP Society and being a member, she is required to get her grievance redressed by availing remedy under Cooperative Societies Act which expressly bars the jurisdiction of civil court including that of this Commission. In support of his arguments, the counsel for the OPs has relied upon Anjana Abraham Vs Managing Director of Koothattukulam Farmers Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. in Revision Petition No.4871 of 2012 decided on 02.09.2013 whereby it has been held by the Hon’ble National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi that a member cannot pick up a conflict with Co-operative Society under the Consumer Protection Act as the alternative remedy available under Section 69 of the Cooperative Societies Act, 1969. The counsel for the OPs has further relied upon 2017(2) C.P.R. 246 in Andhra Bank and others Vs Akhil Bhartiya Brahamina Karivena Nitya Annadana Satram Srisallam and another whereby it has been held by the Hon’ble National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi that the dispute arising among committee of Members of Society in respect of the matter relating to affairs of Society, can be proceeded under Arbitration and Conciliation Act before the concerned District Court. The counsel for the OPs has further relied upon 1998(1) C.P.C. 675 in Indrapuri Nagari Sahakari Pat Sanstha Limited Vs Shri Suryakant Ramchandra Gomase whereby it has been held by the Hon’ble Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Mumbai that the consumer jurisdiction is barred where matter is covered under the Cooperative Society Act and, therefore, the order passed by the Consumer Forum was held to be a nullity. The counsel for the OPs has further relied upon Smt. Paramita Deb Vs The Sector Head in Case No.A.2.2021 decided on 10.05.2021 by the Hon’ble Tripura State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Agartala has held that whenever there is a dispute between the member and the society, then the same is to be settled by the provisions of Multi State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 and not by any court.

8.                We have considered the above contentions of the counsel for OPs but have found the same to be not tenable. In this regard, a reference can be made to law laid down in Mandatai Sambha Ji Pawar and another Vs State of Maharashtra passed in Writ Petition No.117 of 2011 decided on 03.05.2011 by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court whereby it has been held that the remedy under Consumer Protection Act is a remedy in addition to the remedy provided under Section 91 of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act and the jurisdiction of the Consumer Forum and other authorities under Consumer Protection Act is not excluded expressly or by necessary implication by section 91 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act. In this regard, a reference can also be made to the law laid down the decision of the Supreme Court in Secretary, Thirumurugan Co-operative Agricultural Society vs. M. Lalitha, 2004 (1) SCC 305 whereby also it was held that the remedy available under Consumer Protection Act 1986 for redressal of disputes are in addition to the remedy available under the Co-operative Societies Act and Section 156 of the Cooperative Societies Act cannot stand in the way of filing a complaint under Consumer Protection Act. Therefore, it cannot be said that against the Cooperative Society, the complaint is not maintainable under the Consumer Protection Act.

9.                As a result of above discussion, the complaint is allowed with an order that OPs shall pay the amount of Rs.16,307/- to the complainant along with interest @7% per annum  from 25.07.2020 till date of actual payment. OPs shall further pay a composite costs and compensation of Rs.7,000/- (Rupees Seven Thousand only) to the complainant. Compliance of order be made within 30 days from the date of receipt of copy of the order. Copies of order be supplied to parties free of costs as per rules. File be indexed and consigned to record room.

 

                             (Jaswinder Singh)                            (K.K. Kareer)

                    Member                                           President

 

Announced in Open Commission.

Dated:26.10.2022.

Gobind Ram.

 

 

 

Pinki Vs Humara India Credit                     CC/21/416

Present:       Sh. Ajay Chawla, Advocate for complainant.

                   Sh. Sandeep Kumar, Advocate for OPs.

 

                   Reply to application for dismissal of the complaint not filed. Heard. Since the procedure adopted under The Consumer Protection Act is summary in nature, the application for dismissal of the complaint is disposed of with an observation that the objections taken in the application have already been taken in the written statement and the same shall be adjudicated upon in the main order.

                   Arguments heard. Vide separate detailed order of today, the complaint is allowed with an order that OPs shall pay the amount of Rs.16,307/- to the complainant along with interest @7% per annum  from 25.07.2020 till date of actual payment. OPs shall further pay a composite costs and compensation of Rs.7,000/- (Rupees Seven Thousand only) to the complainant. Compliance of order be made within 30 days from the date of receipt of copy of the order. Copies of order be supplied to parties free of costs as per rules. File be indexed and consigned to record room.

 

                             (Jaswinder Singh)                            (K.K. Kareer)

                    Member                                           President

 

Announced in Open Commission.

Dated:26.10.2022.

Gobind Ram.