Orissa

Malkangiri

CC/38/2019

Rajesh Pala - Complainant(s)

Versus

Proprietor, M/s DEV COMMUNICATION - Opp.Party(s)

Self

29 Nov 2019

ORDER

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Complaint Case No. CC/38/2019
( Date of Filing : 10 Jun 2019 )
 
1. Rajesh Pala
aged about 25 years S/O Kailash Pala, At/ P.O. Korukonda, P.S./ Dist. Malkangiri.
...........Complainant(s)
Versus
1. Proprietor, M/s DEV COMMUNICATION
Podia Road,Kalimela Dist.Malkangiri, Odisha.Pin-764047
2. Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd.
B 1, Sector 81, Phase, Noida District, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.
............Opp.Party(s)
 
BEFORE: 
 HON'BLE MR. Rajesh Choudury PRESIDING MEMBER
 
For the Complainant:
For the Opp. Party:
Dated : 29 Nov 2019
Final Order / Judgement
  1. The brief fact of the case of complainant is that he purchased one Samsung Mobile bearing model no. Galaxy J7 Prime-2 having IMEI No. 356922092792105 from the O.P.No.1 vide invoice no. 4861 dated 17.06.2018 and paid Rs. 13,990/-.  It is alleged that after 5 month, he found defect on over heat problem in a little charge of battery and became dead, and contact with O.P. No. 1, who after 20 days of its inspection through O.P. No. 2 returned the handset.Further it is alleged that after using the same for about 2 months, he found the previous defects, for which he again contacted with the O.P. No. 1, who kept the mobile again for about 20 days and returned the handset, but the same was found with improper functioning having inherent manufacturing defects.Thus showing the unfair trade practice and deficiency in service, he filed this case with a prayer to direct the O.Ps to refund the cost of the mobile handset and to pay Rs. 30,000/- and Rs. 5,000/- towards compensation and costs of litigation to him.
     
  2. On the other hand, the O.P. No. 1 appeared in this case and filed his counter version admitting the sale of alleged handset by him but contended that he is only a retailer working on commission basis, and for any manufacturing defects, the O.P. No. 2 is liable to compensate, hence prayed to dismiss the case.
     
  3. The O.P. No. 2 is represented through their Ld. Counsel and 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 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. Except Complainant no other parties to the present disputes, have filed any documents.  Heard from the parties present.  Perused the documents and materials available in the record.
     
  5. In the instant case, there is no dispute regarding sale of alleged mobile handset to the Complainant by O.P.No.1 bearing model no. Galaxy J7 Prime - 2 having IMEI No. 356922092792105 from the O.P.No.1 vide invoice no. 4861 dated 17.06.2018 and paid Rs. 13,990/- and Complainant has filed documents to that effect.  It is also submitted by the Complainant that after 5 month, he found overheat problem in little charge of battery, for which he contacted with the O.P.No.1, who after keeping the said handset for two times, returned the handset with suggesting as manufacturing defect.  Since the O.P. No.1 has not challenged the said versions of complainant, as such the allegations of complainant became unchallenged.  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, 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 has sold by O.P. No. 1 to the Complainant.The allegations of the Complainant regarding the fact that after its repair, he found defects same defects as it was earlier, 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.Though the O.P.No.2 have challenged the same but to make it contrary, they did not file any evidence to that effect, therefore, the allegations of Complainant is wellestablished, 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 20 days, 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 but 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 more than 1 & ½ years 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. 13,990/- to the Complainant and also to pay Rs. 3,000/- towards compensation for causing mental agony and Rs. 2,000/- towards costs of litigation within one month from the date of receipt of this order, failing which, the cost of alleged mobile shall carry interest @ 10% per annum from the date of this order.  Further the Complainant is directed to hand over the alleged mobile handset to the O.P.No.2 at the time of complying the order.

        Pronounced in the open Forum on this the 29th day of November, 2019.

       Issue free copy to the parties concerned.

 
 
[HON'BLE MR. Rajesh Choudury]
PRESIDING MEMBER
 

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