Deenabandhu Panda filed a consumer case on 23 May 2018 against M/s HTC Global Service Pvt., in the Rayagada Consumer Court. The case no is CC/236/2016 and the judgment uploaded on 07 Aug 2018.
DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, RAYAGADA,
STATE: ODISHA.
C.C. Case No. 236 / 2016. Date. 23 .5 . 2018
P R E S E N T .
Dr. Aswini Kumar Mohapatra, Preident.
Sri GadadharaSahu, Member.
Smt. Padmalaya Mishra, Member.
Sri Deenabandhu Panda, S/O: Ramesh Chandra Panda, Brahmin Street, Po: Gunupur,Dist:Rayagada (Odisha) …. Complainant.
Versus.
1.The Chief Executive Officer, M/S HTC Global Services (India) Pvt. Ltd., Phase-II, MEPZ Thambaram, Chennai .
.…..Opp.Parties
Counsel for the parties:
For the complainant: - Self.
For the O.Ps :- Sri Manoj Kumar Rath, Advocate, Rayagada.
JUDGMENT
The curx of the case is that the above named complainant alleging deficiency in service against afore mentioned O.Ps for non payment of salary and other legal dues amounting to Rs.1,44,375/- for which the complainant sought for redressal of the grievances raised by the complainant. The brief facts of the case has summarised here under.
On being noticed the O.Ps. appeared through their learned counsel and submitted that salary payment benefits is an independent Act and there is procedure for appeal, the party has to prefer appeal at first instance before the Labour Court . Under the circumstances it is prayed that the case is preliminarily not maintainable under the C.P. Act, 1986 and prayed to drop the proceeding against the O.Ps 1 & 2 for the best interest of justice.
Heard arguments from the O.P. and from the complainant. Perused the record, documents, filed by the parties.
This forum examined the entire material on record and given a thoughtful consideration to the arguments advanced before us by the parties & vehemently opposed the complaint touching the points both on the facts as well as on law.
FINDINGS.
On perusal of the record it is revealed that the learned counsel for the O.P. vehemently argued that the case is not maintainable preliminary under the C.P. act, 1986.
On perusal of the record it is revealed that the O.P. was issued appointment order on Dt. 23.5.2016 in favour of the complainant (copies of the appointment order is in the file which is marked as Annexure-I). The complainant was ready to work with the O.Ps office but the persons of O.P’s office was not allowed for continuation of service of the complainant. Hence the complainant as per the terms and condition of the appointment letter was entitled to get the termination salary for three months i.e. Rs. 24,792/- x 3 = Rs.74,376.00. In total with other allowances the complainant was entitled to get a sum of Rs. 1,44,375.00 if the O.P. wanted to terminate the service as per their choice. So the complainant claimed a sum of Rs. 1,44,735/- to the O.P when denied the complainant has filed the present C.C. case before the forum
Now the issues before this forum are:-
1)Whether the complaint petition is maintainable in this forum ?
2)Whether there is deficiency in service on the part of the O.Ps?
3. If so, the nature of relief to be granted to the complainant ?
On examination of the merits of the case It is understood that it is the case of an employee against the employer. Section 2(1)(d)(ii) of the C.P. Act, 1986 lays down that “Consumer” means any person who hires or avails of any service for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised or under any system of deferred payment . In the instant case the complainant can not be said to have hired the services of the O.ps for any consideration. In such circumstances the allegation with regard to the deficiency in service of the O.Ps does not arise to be adjudicated upon by the District Consumer Forums under section- 12 of the C.P. Act so the complainant’s petition against the O.Ps fails to invoke the jurisdiction of this forum.
When the case is not maintainable before the forum we need not discuss the other issues on merit.
This forum relied citation it is held and reported in C.P.R. 2011(4) page No. 128 where in the hon’ble National Commission observed “Employee is not a consumer of his employer”.
For redressal of grievance relating to service matter for non payment of salary by the O.Ps, there is a Labour Court, where the complainant can agitate his grievance for its redressal . The O.Ps whom the complainant was working is neither the service provider nor the complainant who was working as Sr. Software Engineer is a consumer. The complaint petition is therefore, liable to be dismissed.
The grievance of the complainant can be raised before the appropriate court of law and not before this forum. As the case is not maintainable before the forum we do not think proper to go into merit of this case.
Hence, the claim of the complainant can not be accepted under the provisions of the C.P. Act. It is open to complainant ordinary remedy to approach proper forum. As this forum had no option in law but to deny any relief on complainants were hopelessly barred by jurisdiction.
So to meet the ends of justice the following order is passed.
ORDER.
In resultant the complaint petition stands dismissed. The complainant is free to approach the court of competent having its jurisdiction. Parties are left to bear their own cost. Accordingly the case is disposed of.
The time spent before consumer forum shall be set-off by the authority, where the proceedings are taken up, as per provision of Section-14 of Limitation Act, as per the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Laxmi Engineering works Vrs. P.S.G.Industrial Institute 1995 (3) SCC 583.
Dictated and corrected by me
Pronounced on this 23rd. Day of May, 2018.
Member. Member. President
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