IN THE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, ALAPPUZHA
Saturday the 31st day of December, 2011
Filed on 20.10.2011
Present
- Sri. Jimmy Korah (President)
- Sri. K. Anirudhan (Member)
- Smt. Shajitha Beevi (Member)
in
C.C.No.342/2011
between
Complainants:- Opposite Parties:-
1. Sri.Radhakrishnan 1. The President, Sree Munnodi Sree Sailam, XII 275 Manavaseva Trust Reg. No. Arattuvazhy Ward A-491/2001, Kanjiramchira
Alappuzha Alappuzha
.
2. Smt.Pennamma Radhakrishnan 2. The Secretary, Sree Munnodi
W/o Radhakrishnan Manavaseva Trust Reg. No. -do- -do- A-491/2001 -do- -do-
3. Joshila. P., D/o Radhakrishnan
-do- -do-
(By Adv. K.T.Anishmon)
O R D E R
SMT. N. SHAJITHA BEEVI (MEMBER)
The complainants have filed this complaint before the Forum on 20.10.2011. The brief facts of the allegations of the complainant are as follows:- The first opposite party is a Registered Trust vide Registration No. A. 491/01 has engaged in the business of receiving deposits from the local people. As per the assurance given by the President and Secretary of the said trust (opposite parties), they had deposited a sum of Rs. 6,00,000/- on different dates. At the time of the deposit of said amount the opposite parties issued Pass Books and Receipts to them and the opposite parties had given interest on the deposit amounts to the complainants till March, 2007 and thereafter no payment was given by the opposite parties towards interest as agreed. They had requested the opposite parties to return the deposited amount together with interest, in order to meet the urgent needs. But the opposite parties have not returned the deposit amount to the complainants. The opposite parties had utilized the deposited amounts for commercial purposes, and now the opposite parties are taking hasty steps for alienating the assets, so as to defeat the recovery steps. Since the opposite parties had denied the repayment of the deposited amount together with interest, they have filed this complaint seeking relief.
2. Notices were issued to the opposite parties. They have not entered appearance before the Forum. Considering the absence of the opposite parties they were declared as ex parte by this Forum on 14.11.2011.
3. Considering the allegations of the complainants, this Forum has raised the following issues:-
1. Whether the complainant is entitled to get back the deposited amounts with
interest?
2. Cost and compensations?
4. Issues 1 and 2:- The complainants have filed proof affidavit in support of their case and produced documents– Ext.A1 to A10 – marked. Exts. A1 to A5 are the original Pass Books and Exts.A6 to A10 are the receipts issued to the complainants at the time of deposit. The original pass books show the details of deposit amounts of Rs.6 lakhs on different dates and interest paid to the complainants till March, 2007.
5. On a perusal of the complaint, proof affidavit and documents produced by complainants, it can be seen that on the basis of the assurance given by the opposite parties, the complainants had deposited a sum of Rs. 6 lakhs and they had paid interest till March, 2007 to the complainants. Since the complainants had in urgent need of money they had requested the opposite parties to return the deposited amount with interest. But the opposite parties have not cared to return the amount. The opposite parties have not shown any interest to return the deposited amount in time. The complainants had deposited the said amounts, on the basis of the assurance given by the opposite parties to return the amount in time. But the opposite parties evaded from the assurance and cheated the complainants by way of denial of repayment of the said amount. It shows the grossest deficiency in service and culpable negligence on the part of the opposite parties. It is to be noticed that the opposite parties have not appeared before this Forum to explain the reasons for denial of the deposited amount to the complainants. It shows the irresponsible attitude of the opposite parties in this financial matter. Since there is grossest deficiency in service and culpable negligence on the part of the opposite parties, the complainants are fully entitled to get compensation and cost, along with the return of the deposited amount of Rs. 6 laks with interest. The action on the part of the opposite parties is highly illegal and arbitrary. We have fully convinced that the allegations put forward by the complainants against the opposite parties and it is to be treated as genuine. So the complaint is to be allowed as prayed for. All the issues are found in favour of the complainants.
In the result, for the ends of justice, we hereby direct the opposite parties to return the deposited amount of Rs. 6,00,000/- (Rupees six lakhs only) to the complainants along with 24% interest from March, 2007 till the date of repayment of the entire amount, together with the compensation of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand only) for the mental agony, sufferings, loss, inconvenience and physical strain of the complainants due to the dereliction of duty, grossest deficiency in service and culpable negligence on the part of the opposite parties by way of denial of the release of the deposited amount together with interest to the complainants in time and pay a sum of Rs. 1,000/- (Rupees one thousand only) as cost of this proceedings. We further direct the opposite parties to pay the said amounts within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order.
Pronounced in open Forum on this the 31st day of December 2011.
Sd/- Smt. N. Shajitha Beevi:
Sd/- Sri. Jimmy Korah:
Sd/- Sri. K. Anirudhan:
Appendix:-
Evidence of the complainant:-
Exts. A1 to A5 - Original Pass books (5 Nos.)
Exts.A6 to A10 - Original Receipts (5 Nos.)
Evidence of the opposite parties:- Nil
// True Copy //
By Order
Senior Superintendent
To
Complainant/Opposite parties/S.F.
Typed by:-pr/-
Compared by:-
