IN THE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, ALAPPUZHA
Tuesday the 28thday of December, 2021.
Filed on 26.05.2020
Present
- Sri.S.Santhosh Kumar. BSc.,LL.B (President )
- Smt. C.K.Lekhamma .B.A, LLB (Member)
In
CC/No.113/2020
between
Complainants:- Opposite parties:-
1. Smt. P.N.Ponnamma 1. Kerala Housing Finance Ltd
W/o Late, Anandan 2nd Floor, Pan African Plaza
Thiruvonam, Harippad.P.O M.G.Road, Trivandrum-695001
Alappuzha
2. Sri. Manoj Panicker 2. G.Unnikrishnan Nair
S/o Late Anandan S/o GovindaPillai,
=do= =do= Managing Director
(Adv. Stephan. J.Daniel) Kerala Housing Finance Ltd.
2nd Floor, Pan African Plaza
M.G.Road, Trivandrum-695001
(Mullasseril House Kannamkodu
Muri, Adoor)
3. SureshkumarGanadharanPillai
Director, Kerala Housing Finance
Ltd, 2nd Floor, Pan African Plaza
M.G.Road, Trivandrum-695001
4. PazhoorParameswaran, Director
Kerala Housing Finance Ltd
2nd Floor, Pan African Plaza
M.G.Road, Trivandrum-695001
5. Krishnan Nair Narayanan Pillai
Director,Kerala Housing Finance
Ltd. 2nd Floor, Pan African Plaza
M.G.Road Trivandrum-695001
6. Branch Manager
Kerala Housing Finance Ltd.
Naha Building ,Medamukku
Kayamkulam
O R D E R
C.K.LEKHAMMA(MEMBER)
Brief facts of the complainant’s case are as follows:-
The first complainant is the mother of the 2nd complainant. The first opposite party is a service provider in the field of finance and the other opposite parties 2 to 5 are its managing director and directors. The complainant purchased 1500 fully paid up secured redeemable bonds of Rs.1,000/- each from the opposite party and they issued bond certificate on 7.3.2017 with maturity period on 07.06.2020 with option for redemption at any time after 12 months with interest at the assured rate of 12% per annum.
In exercise of the option for early redemption after 12 months on 27.06.2019 the complainants had demanded the amount covered by the bonds certificate with accrued interest @ 12% per annum but the opposite parties had not cared to honour their commitment nor did they make any attempt to pay the amount ie, redemption value as on that date as demanded by the complainants the said act of opposite party amounts to deficiency of service. The assurance made by the opposite parties at the time of transactions appears to be a false representation intended to cheat the customers and loot money from them is nothing short of an unfair trade practice from the part of them. The complainants had suffered loss on account of such unfair trade practice. The opposite parties were not cared to pay the redemption value as demanded by the complainants, the complainants made suffered acute mental agony on that count. Complainant is entitled to get compensation from the opposite parties. The opposite parties are liable to pay Rs.1,50,000/- (One lakh fifty thousand only) covered by the 150 fully paid up secured redeemable bond of Rs.1,000/- as certified in the bond certificate issued by the company on 07.03.17 with accrued interest @ 12 % per annum from 07.03.17 till payment of the amount.
The opposite parties failed to pay the said demands made by the complainants, the complainants had caused to send lawyers notice to the opposite party on 24.09.19. The opposite parties were evaded from receiving the notice hence all those notices were returned as unserved. Hence the complainants approached this Commission for following reliefs sought against the opposite parties.
- To direct the opposite parties to pay the redemption value of the 150 fully paid up secured redeemable bonds having face value of Rs.1000/- each covered by bond certificate issued by the company on 07.03.17 to the complainants with the assured 12 % interest from 07.03.17 till payment.
- To award Rs.50,000/- towards damages for mental agony.
- To award Rs.10,000/- towards cost of the proceedings.
2. The following points raised for consideration are that:-
1. Whether the complainant is entitled to get the relief sought for?
2. Relief and cost if any?
3. Point No.1:-
The 2nd complainant filed chief affidavit along with 4 documents and those were marked as Ext.A1 to A4. The opposite parties remained absent after receipt of notice from this Commission. Hence declared them exparte. Thereafter we have heard the complainants counsel.
4. Ext.A1 is the bond certificate No.8884 KYLM dated 07.03.2017, Ext.A2 is the copy of lawyer’s notice dated 24.09.2019, Ext.A3 is the postal receipt dated 25.09.2019, Ext.A4 is the returned advocate notices.
On perusal of Ext.A1 bond certificate dated 07.03.2017 it revealed that the complainants had purchased 1500 fully paid up non-convertible secured redeemable bonds of Rs.1,000/- each as per Ext.A1 bond certificate issued by the opposite parties on 03.02.2017 with maturity date on 03.08.22 with option for redemption at any time after 12 months with interest at the assured rate of 12% per annum. Accordingly the complainants opted early redemption after 12 months on 27.6.19, the complainant had demanded the amount covered by Ext.A1 with assured interest @ 12 % per annum. But opposite parties have failed to abide the promise as they assured and did not make any attempt to pay the amount ie, the redemption value as on that date as demanded by the complainant. So the complainant had caused to send Ext.A2 lawyer notice dated 24.09.19 to the opposite parties but they were evaded from receiving the notice.
The complainant’s case stands well sustained by the evidence put on record by the complainant. The opposite parties remained absent even after the receipt of notice from this Commission. In the absence of contrary evidence we are of the view that the case of the complainants is believable and they are entitled to realise Rs.1,50,000/- (One lakh fifty thousand) ie, the redemption value of the 150 fully paid up secured redeemable bonds having face value of Rs.1000/- each as per Ext.A1 bond certificate along with assured 12 % interest from 07.03.2017 the date of issuance of Ext.A1 till the payment from the opposite parties.
The 1st opposite parties being a financial institution incorporated as per the provisions of the Companies Act and other opposite parties 2 to 5 are its managing director and directors hence all are bonds to abide by the terms and conditions assured by them. But they have committed breach of promise as well as deficiency of service towards the complainants. Therefore opposite parties 1 to 6 are jointly and severally liable to pay compensation for said count to the complainant and also opposite parties are liable to pay litigation cost to the complainants.
Point No.2
Accordingly, we allowed the complaint and direct as follows:-
- The opposite parties are jointly and severally liable to pay Rs.1,50,000/- (Rupees One Lakh fifty thousand only) with interest @ 12 % per annum from 07.03.2017, till realization and Rs.15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen thousand only) towards compensation to the complainant.
- The opposite parties are jointly and severally liable to pay Rs.1,000/- each as litigation cost to the complainants.
The order shall be complied within one month from the date of receipt of the copy of this order.
Dictated to the Confidential Assistant, transcribed by her corrected by me and pronounced in open Commission on this the 28th day of December, 2021.
Smt. C.K.Lekhamma (Member)
Sri.S.Santhosh Kumar (President)
Appendix:-Evidence of the complainant:-
Ext.A1 - Bond Certificate No.8884 KYLM dtd. 7/3/2017
Ext.A2 - Copy of Lawyers Notice dt. 24/9/2019
Ext.A3 - Postal Recieptdtd. 25/9/2019
ExtA4 - Reply Notice
Evidence of the opposite parties:-Nil
Sa/-
///True Copy ///
To
Complainant/Oppo.party/S.F.
By Order
Assistant Registrar
Typed by:- Br/-
Compared by:-
