Delhi

New Delhi

CC/299/2019

GAURAV GANDHI - Complainant(s)

Versus

M/S. AIR INDIA LTD. - Opp.Party(s)

22 Jan 2020

ORDER

 

 

                               CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM-VI

                          (DISTT. NEW DELHI),

                           ‘M’ BLOCK, 1^STFLOOR, VIKAS BHAWAN, I.P.ESTATE,

                                                           NEW DELHI-110001

 

Case No.CC.299/2019                                 Dated:

In the matter of:

1.       Mr. Gaurav Gandhi

 

2.        Mrs. Sakshi Gandhi

W/o Sh. Gaurav Gandhi

 

     3.          Kiaan Vir Gandhi(minor)

                  Through NG/Father

                   Mr. Gaurav Gandhi

 

4.     Ms. Sumiti Batra

 

        All of R/o

         D-11, Nizamuddin East,

        New Delhi-13.

                   ……..COMPLAINANTS

VERSUS

      AIR India Ltd.

      Airlines House,

      Connaught Place,

      New Delhi-01.

     Through its Chairman/MD.

                                                                                                                                                                                 …....OPPOSITE PARTY

 

ARUN KUMAR ARYA, PRESIDENT

ORDER

 

The complainant has filed the present complaint against the OP under section 12 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986, alleging deficiency in services and claiming  a sum of Rs.4,75,341/- besides other relief

2.     Argument on the admissibility of the complaint on the point of territorial jurisdiction heard. It is submitted by the complainant that  office of OP is situated at Connaught Place, New Delhi,  within the territorial jurisdiction of this Forum, so this Forum was competent to adjudicate the matter.

3.     In the present case, the ticket was booked by  the complainant from Make my trip having its office at Gurugram office of the OP Co. The  cause of action arose at Mumbai.  The complainant has failed to place on record any document which proves that  any cause of action arose from the office of the OP situated  at Connaught Place, New Delhi,  hence, no cause of action or part of it arose within the Territorial Jurisdiction of this District Forum.

On the issue of Territorial Jurisdiction, we are guided by the Hon’ble Apex court in the case of Sonic Surgical where in the following order where passed. In Sonic Surgical versus National Insurance Co. Ltd Civil Appeal No. 1560 of 2004 decided by Hon’ble Supreme Court on 20/10/2009, the Hon’ble Supreme Court passed the following orders:-

“Ld. Counsel for the appellant submitted that the respondent-insurance company has a branch office at Chandigarh and hence under the amended Section 17 (2) t he complaint could have been filed in Chandigarh.  We regret, we cannot agree with the Ld.Counsel for the appellant. In our opinion, an interpretation has to be given to the amended Section 17(2) (b) of the Act, which does not lead to an absurd consequence.  If the contention of the Ld.Counsel for the appellant is accepted, it will mean that even if a cause of action has arisen in Ambala, then too the complainant can file a claim petition even in Tamil Nadu or Gauhati or anywhere in India where a branch office of the insurance company is situated.  We cannot agree with this contention.  It will lead to absurd consequences and lead to bench hunting.  In our opinion, the expression ‘branch office’ in the amended Section 17(2) would mean the branch office where the cause of action has arisen.  No doubt this would be departing from the plain and literal words of Section 17(2) (b) of the Act but such departure is sometimes necessary (as it is in this case) to avoid absurdity.  [vide G.P.Singh’s Principles of Statutory Interpretation, Ninth Edition, 2004 P. 79]

 

In the present case, since the cause of action arose at Ambala, the State Consumer Redressal Commission, Haryana alone will have jurisdiction to entertain the complaint.”

 

4.     We are, therefore, of the view that this Forum does not have the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the complaint for want of territorial jurisdiction in view of the judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in Sonic Surgical case (Supra). The complaint is, therefore, directed to be returned to the complainant along with all annexure against acknowledgment. A copy of the complaint be retained for records. Complaint is accordingly, disposed off in above terms. The copy of the order be sent to complainant free of cost by post. Orders be also sent to www.confonet.nic.in. File be consigned to record room.

Pronounced in open Forum on22/01/2020.                 

 

 

 ( ARUN KUMAR ARYA)

PRESIDENT

                                   (NIPUR CHANDNA)                                      (H M VYAS)

                                       MEMBER                                                    MEMBER