Orissa

Malkangiri

CC/31/2019

S.K. Sales & Services (ITEL) - Complainant(s)

Versus

Proprietor, Global IT City, - Opp.Party(s)

Self

04 Dec 2019

ORDER

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Complaint Case No. CC/31/2019
( Date of Filing : 27 May 2019 )
 
1. S.K. Sales & Services (ITEL)
Represented by Chitrasen Nayak, aged about 35 years, S/o Late Biswanath Nayak, At : Chitrakonda, P.O./P.S. : Chitrakonda, Dist. Malkangiri.
...........Complainant(s)
Versus
1. Proprietor, Global IT City,
NAC Stall No. 11 Main Road, Malkangiri, P.O./ P.S./Dist. Malkangiri.
2. Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd.
B1 Sector 81 Phase Noida District Gautam Budh Nagar Uttar Pradesh.
............Opp.Party(s)
 
BEFORE: 
 HON'BLE MR. Rajesh Choudury PRESIDING MEMBER
 HON'BLE MS. Sabita Samantray MEMBER
 
For the Complainant:
For the Opp. Party:
Dated : 04 Dec 2019
Final Order / Judgement

 

  1. The brief fact of the case of complainant is that on 26.10.2018 he purchased one Samsung Mobile handset from O.P.No.1 bearing model no. J6+ (J615) Blue having IMEI No. 352682101532009 and paid Rs. 15,550/- vide delivery challan no. 3989 dated 26.10.2018 alongwith warranty certificate.  It is alleged that 3 month after it’s use, the handset exhibited several defects like touch screen / overheat performance in its body part and did not function properly for which he approached the O.P.No.1 who received the alleged handset for its repair and after 10 days returned the handset being repaired, but after one month, it exhibited the previous defects alongwith additional defects like battery problem.Considering the defects of the mobile handset on approach to O.P. No. 1, who kept the mobile again for 10 days and returned the mobile but the same defects exhibited from time to time and on approach to the O.P. No. 1 who assured to contact with the O.P.No.2 but no fruitful result came out.Thus alleging the unfair trade practice and deficiency in service on the part of O.Ps, he filed this case with a prayer to direct the O.Ps to refund the cost of the handset and to pay Rs. 20,000/- and Rs. 5,000/- towards compensation and costs of litigation to him.
     
  2. On the other hand, the O.P. No. 1 though received the notice of this Fora, did not choose to appear in this case, nor he filed the counter / written version nor also participated in the hearing inspite of several opportunities / adjournments have given to him for his submissions keeping in view of natural justice, as such, we lost every opportunities to hear from him.
     
  3. The O.P. No. 2 is represented through their Ld. Counsel, who appeared in this case, filed their counter in shape of written version admitting the manufacture of the alleged product so also purchase of alleged mobile handset by the Complainant from the O.P. No. 1 but denied all other facts contending that they have contended that the alleged handset is a well established product in the market over a period of years and all those products are put through stringent control system, quality checks by the quality department before dispatch to the market.Further they contended that the Complainant has not produced any expert opinion report to prove his allegation and also the defects in the said mobile are not in their knowledge, so also nor the Complainant intimated them regarding any defect, as such showing their no liability, they prayed to dismiss the case against them.
     
  4. Both parties have filed their respective documents in support of their submissions.  Heard from the Complainant as well as from the A/R for O. P. No. 2.  Perused the documents and materials available in the record.
     
  5. In the instant case, there is no dispute regarding purchase of the alleged mobile handset by the Complainant from the O.P.No.1 bearing model no. J6+ (J615) Blue having IMEI No. 352682101532009 and paid Rs. 15,550/- vide delivery challan no. 3989 dated 26.10.2018 alongwith warranty certificate and the Complainant has filed documents to that effect.  The allegations of complainant is that 3 month using the said mobile, it exhibited several defects like touch screen / overheat performance in its body part and did not function properly for which he approached the O.P.No.1 who received the alleged mobile handset for its repair and after 10 days returned the mobile by saying the handset is repaired, but after one month, it exhibited the previous defects alongwith additional defects like battery problem.  Since the O.P. No.1 did not appear throughout the proceeding, we lost opportunities to hear from him so also to come to a conclusion that whether the alleged mobile handset was having any defects as alleged by the complainant.  Though the O.P. No. 2 challenged the same stating that the defects occurred in the mobile handset are not in their knowledge, but did not adduce cogent evidence either from a expert opinion nor obtained any evidence from their channel partner i.e. O.P.No.1 and though the O.P. No.1 received the notice from this Fora, did not challenge the versions of complainant, whereas the O.P. No. 1 is concerned person who can answer the question raised by the complainant, as such the averments made by the complainant became unrebuttal by the O.Ps.In this connections, we have fortified with the verdicts of Hon’ble National Commission in the case between Urban Improvement Trust, Bikaner, Rajasthan Vrs Babu Lal and Another that “Unrebutted averments shall be deemed to be admitted.”  
     
  6. Further, at the time of hearing, the O.P.No.1 is absent on repeated calls, for which we lost opportunities to come to know that whether the submissions of the O.P.No.2 contains any truth or not, as such the contentions of the O.P. No. 2 was taken into consideration regarding the fact that the defects were not in their knowledge.  However, the O.P.No.2 has admitted that the alleged mobile handset in dispute was manufactured by them which was sold by O.P. No. 1 to the complainant.  The allegations of the Complainant regarding the fact that after its repair, he found previous defects alongwith additional defects for which he deposited the same with the O.P.No.1, who after its inspection returned the handset with suggesting as a manufacturing defect, was well corroborated by him at the time of hearing.  The O.P.No.2 have challenged the same by filing of a job sheet showing the service carried out by them.  And the said documents only discloses that defects of having display broken but have not filed any subsequent documents to prove that the present defects in the alleged mobile was either arising out of such display broken or by any misuse or mishandling of the alleged handset, hence, the allegations of complainant is well established, so also the absence of the O.P.No.1 makes the averments of Complainant strong and vital.
     
  7. Further, the defects were occurred during the warranty period though the mobile handset was used for three months, which was supposed to be repaired by the O.P. No. 1 in assistance with the authorized technicians of the O.P.No.2,  but without providing his best service, the O.P.No.1 only suggested that the alleged mobile handset is having manufacturing defect, which is not permissible in the eye of law.  As it is the first and foremost duty of the O.P. No. 1 to provide his best services to his genuine customer i.e. Complainant, and had the O.P. No.1 provided the service towards repair of the alleged mobile handset than the defects in the mobile handset could have easily rectified and the complainant would not have suffered and in our view, such type of practice adopted by the O.P. No. 1 is clearly established the principle of deficiency in service.  Though the submissions of complainant was challenged by the O.P.No.2  contending that replacement or refund of cost cannot be made without any expert opinion report made to that effect, which seems that O.P.NO.2 intended to strictly push the burden of proof on the Complainant, instead of making any enquiry with their channel partner i.e. O.P.No.1 and  miserably failed to make any contradiction regarding existence of any defects.
     
  8. We feel, had the O.P. No. 1 rectified the alleged defects occurred in the mobile handset through one authorized service center set up by the O.P.No.2, then the defects of the mobile handset could have easily and properly rectified, so that the Complainant would not have suffered.  Further it was the duty of O.P.No.1 on the day when he received the alleged mobile handset from the complainant, immediately he was supposed to intimate the O.P.No. 2 for providing better service to their genuine customer.  Further it is seen that since there was no service center of O.P.No.2 at the time of occurrence in the present locality, as such the complainant who purchase the products of the O.P.No.2 from the O.P. No. 1 must have depended on the O.P.No.1 to avail proper service. In this regard, we feel the O.P. No. 1 might have repaired the alleged mobile handset through the local unauthorized technicians but not by the authorized service engineer of the O.P. No. 2 and without providing better service as per the norms of the company, the O.P.No. 1 indulged himself in corrupt practice of his business, which is bad in law.
     
  9. Further lying the said handset for a period of year without any use, in our view, is of no use.
     
  10. Hence considering the above discussions, we feel, the complainant deserves to be compensated with adequate compensation and costs for non providing better service by the O.Ps to their valuable customer like the complainant, as the complainant must have suffered some mental agony and physical harassment, for which he was compelled to file this case incurring some expenses.  Considering his sufferings, we feel a sum of Rs. 3,000/- towards compensation and Rs. 2,000/- towards cost of litigation will meet the ends of justice.  Hence this order.
                     
                                                                                        ORDER
            The complaint petition is allowed in part and the O.P. No.2 being the manufacturer of the alleged product is herewith directed to refund the cost of the alleged mobile handset i.e. Rs. 15,550/- to the complainant within one month from the date of receipt of this order, failing which, the said amount shall carry interest @ 10% per annum from the date of this order.  Further the O.P.No.2 is herewith also directed to pay Rs. 3,000/- towards compensation and Rs. 2,000/- for costs of litigation to the complainant. 

        Pronounced in the open Forum on this the 4th day of December, 2019.  Issue free copy to the parties concerned.

 

 
 
[HON'BLE MR. Rajesh Choudury]
PRESIDING MEMBER
 
 
[HON'BLE MS. Sabita Samantray]
MEMBER
 

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