Haryana

Bhiwani

CC/203/2023

Ram Rattan - Complainant(s)

Versus

Post office - Opp.Party(s)

Lalit Nayyar

27 Nov 2024

ORDER

BEFORE THE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, BHIWANI.

 

                  Consumer Complaint No. :  203 of 2023

                  Date of Institution             :  20.07.2023

                                                           Date of Decision               :  27.11.2024

 

Ram Ratan son of Sh. Ami Lal R/o H.No.70, Hanuman Dhani, Bhiwani.

 

          ……Complainant.

 

Versus

 

1. Post Master, Head Post Office, Ghanta Ghar, Bhiwani.

 

2. Chief General Postmaster, Circular Road, Ambala Cantt-133001.

 

….. Opposite Parties.

 

COMPLAINT U/S 35 OF CONSUMER PROECTION ACT, 2019.

 

BEFORE:     Mrs. Saroj Bala Bohra, Presiding Member.

Ms. Shashi Kiran Panwar, Member.

 

Present:-      Sh. Lalit Nayyar and Sh. Mahinder Khurana, Advocates for complainant.

                    Sh. Kapil Sharma, Advocate for OPs.

 

ORDER

 

Saroj Bala  Bohra, Presiding Member.

 

1.                 Brief facts of the present complaint are that complainant in order to save some amount from his hard earned money in post office scheme, approached OP No.1 who suggested to deposit the amount in Term/Time Deposit Scheme for one year as it will pays more interest. So, complainant deposited Rs.1,60,000/- in in his name on 19.10.2022 and a time-deposit pass-book bearing A/c No.020049010676 and CIF No.376776082 was issued by OPs with date of maturity as 19.10.2023 and OP No.1 assured to pay interest prevailing at the time of deposit. It is submitted that complainant was in need of money for some domestic needs, he approached the OP No.1 to get back the deposited amount in June 2023 but he was shocked to know that there was no any amount deposited in the name of complainant in such type of account. Hence, the present complaint has been preferred by complainant alleging deficiency in service on the part of Ops thereby causing monetary loss as well as mental and physical harassment. In the end, prayer has been made to direct the Ops to pay Rs.1,60,000/- alongwith agreed rate of interest till maturity alongwith interest as assessed by the Commission till realization. Further to pay an appropriate sum as compensation for harassment besides Rs.25,000/- as litigation expenses. Any other relief, to which this Commission deems fit has also been sought.

 2.                Upon notice, OPs appeared through counsel and filed reply raising preliminary objections qua maintainability of complaint, complainant not a consumer, mis-joinder and non-joinder of necessary parties and suppression of material facts. On merits, it is submitted that as per finacle software/post office records, the account No.020049010676 was opened on 13.09.2022 under RD Scheme at SOL ID 40006901 in the name of Prathmesh Nandadeep Lingayat R/o 324 Rehab Bldg 3 Saditutta Sra Saiwadi. Andheri East Mumbai of State Maharashtra and the said account no. neither relates to any post office under jurisdiction of Bhiwani Postal Division nor relates to the complainant Sh. Ram Rattan as per Post office record and Account no.020049010676 does not relate with CIF No.376776082. Hence, no amount deposited by complainant on 19.10.2022 as alleged in the present complaint. In the end, denied for any deficiency in service and prayed for dismissal of the complaint with costs.  

3.                 In evidence of complainant, affidavit of complainant Ex. CW1/A alongwith documents Ex. C-1 and Ex. C-2 were tendered and closed the evidence.

4.                 On the other side, in evidence of OPs, affidavit of Mr. Ashok Kumar Verma, Post Master, Bhiwani as Ex. RW1/A alongiwth documents Annexure R-1 and Annexure R-2 were tendered and closed the evidence.

5.                 We have heard learned counsels for the parties and perused the case file minutely. Written arguments filed on behalf of OPs. Ld. counsel for complainant has also placed reliance on case law delivered by Hon’ble National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi in First Appeal No.690 of 2018 titled Department of Post & 3 Ors Vs. Colonel Narendra Nath Suri(Retd.) decided on 05.06.2023.

6.                 Complainant in order to prove deposit of the alleged amounts have placed on record photocopies of passbook issued by the OPs as Ex. C-1 having account number 02004901676 for Rs.1,60,000/- on 19.10.2022. Learned counsel for complainant has argued that the OPs has not released the maturity amount despite visiting the office of OPs several times which amounts to deficiency in service on their part as well as unfair trade practice and prayed for acceptance of the complaint as prayed for.

7.                 On the other hand, OP side has placed on record document Annexure R-1 which shows that the alleged account was not in the name of complainant whereas it was in the name of Prathmesh Nandadeep. Thus learned counsel for OPs has argued that no question of deposit of any amount by complainants arise. The counsel has pointed out that the alleged passbooks are handwritten whereas all passbooks in post office are printed and handwriting of all the copies of passbooks produced in this case as well as in other cases are in one handwriting which clearly speaks that the passbooks were prepared by the agent Lila Krishan Mehta. The counsel has further argued that argued that Ran Singh-complainant in other cases, during a departmental enquiry on 12.01.2023 has admitted that he had opened all the accounts alongwith numbers in post office through agent Lila Krishan Mehta who is known to him for the last 25-30 years. Further, Smt. Usha Rani wife of the agent and his son Joginder Kumar has also admitted /recognized the handwriting of the Agent. As such, the counsel has vehemently argued that the complaint may be dismissed with exemplary costs.

8.                 After hearing learned counsel for the parties and going through the record, we have observed that the alleged amount was deposited by complainant with OPs but the amount was not returned to the complainant and they have no justification, to withhold the maturity amount of complainant. Further, the OPs have utterly failed to perform their part of obligations. It is pertinent to mention here that the OPs, even after the filing of this complaint and during the pendency of this complaint, have not shown any interest to release the maturity amount to the complainant.  As per pleadings of the OPs in some connected cases and as per written arguments of OPs, Sh. Lila Krishan was their Agent and was working for the post office. In this regard, the case law Department of Post & 3 Ors (supra) is much help in deciding the present case wherein a judgment passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has been quoted having titled Pradeep Kumar & Anr. Vs. Post Master General and Others (2022) 6 SCC-351, Civil Appeal No.8775-8776 of 2016 whereby it is observed that “it is settled proposition of law that principal is liable for the act of his agent.”  In view of the aforesaid discussion, it would be suffice to say that OPs are legally liable for the act of their agent. Therefore, we conclude that there has been lapse and deficiency on the part of the OPs while delivering services to the complainant which has caused huge monetary loss as well as mental and physical harassment to the complainant. Hence the complaint is allowed and OPs, jointly and severally, are directed to comply with the following directions within 40 days from the date of passing of this order:-

(i)       To pay a sum of Rs.1,60,000/- (Rs. One lac sixty thousand) to the complainant alongwith agreed rate of interest under the scheme, from the date of deposit of the amount till its actual realization subject to fulfilling necessary formalities, if any, by complainants.  

 (ii)     To pay a sum of Rs.5,000/- (Rs. Five thousand) as compensation for harassment.

(iii)     Also to pay Rs.5500/- as litigation expenses.

                    In case of default, all the amounts mentioned above shall attract interest @ 12% per annum for the period of default.

                    Further, if this order is not complied with, then the complainant shall be entitled to the execution petition under section 71 of Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and in that eventuality, the opposite parties may also be liable for prosecution under Section 72 of the said Act which envisages punishment of imprisonment, which may extend to three years or fine upto rupees one lac or with both. Copies of this order be sent to the parties concerned, free of costs, as per rules.  File be consigned to the record room after due compliance. 

Announced.

Dated:27.11.2024