Chandigarh

DF-I

CC/89/2016

Kunal Kinra - Complainant(s)

Versus

Raymond Apparel Ltd. - Opp.Party(s)

In person

19 May 2016

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM-I, U.T. CHANDIGARH

============

Consumer Complaint  No	:	CC/89/2016
Date  of  Institution	:	08/02/2016
Date   of   Decision	:	19/05/2016

 

 

 

 

 

Kunal Kinra, 2 Ram Bagh Road, Ferozepur Cantt., Punjab.

 

…....... Complainant.

Vs

 

Raymond Apparel Limited, Park Avenue, SCO 23, Sector 17-E, Chandigarh, through its Store Manager.

 

….......... Opposite Party

 

BEFORE:   MRS.SURJEET KAUR             PRESIDING MEMBER

          SH. SURESH KUMAR SARDANA     MEMBER

 

For Complainant	:	Sh. Kunal Kinra, Complainant in person.
For Opposite Party	:	Sh. Narveer Singh, Store Manager.

 

PER SURjeet kaur, presiding MEMBER

 

 

          Succinctly put, the Complainant had purchased a Park Avenue Suit from the Opposite Party under a promotional offer of 50% off. It has been averred that the MRP of the said Suit was Rs.10,999/- which was inclusive of all taxes. It has been alleged that after giving 50% discount the Opposite Party had charged Rs.5,499.50/- from the Complainant and had also charged Rs.274.98P as VAT on Rs.5,499.50/-(totaling Rs.5,774/-) which was already inclusive of all taxes (Invoice at Pg.5 of the paper book). The Complainant accordingly raised the issue with the Store Manager of the Opposite Party, but to no avail. Hence, alleging the aforesaid act & conduct of the Opposite Party as deficiency in service and unfair trade practice, the Complainant has filed the present Complaint.

 

2.      Notice of the complaint was sent to Opposite Party seeking its version of the case.

 

3.      Opposite Party in its reply, while admitting the factual aspects of the case, has pleaded that the amount of Rs.5,774/- which it had charged to the Complainant was much lower than the MRP of Rs.10,999/- of the Suit and it had not collected any amount over and above the MRP either under VAT or under any other name. Further, the Complainant was aware of the discounts and the conditions applicable, as special placards displaying the information in relation to the sale price offered and relevant terms and conditions were put in the store of the Opposite Party. It has been asserted that the VAT amount collected on discounted MRP from the Complainant was deposited with the government. Pleading that there is no deficiency in service or unfair trade practice on its part, Opposite Party has prayed for dismissal of the complaint.

 

4.      The Complainant also filed rejoinder wherein the averments as contained in the complaint have been reiterated and those as alleged in the written statement by the Opposite Party have been controverted.

 

5.      Parties were permitted to place their respective evidence on record in support of their contentions.

 

6.      We have heard the Complainant in person and the Store Manager of the Opposite Party and have also perused the record with utmost care and circumspection.

 

7.      The case of the Complainant is that he was charged extra VAT @5% for the Park Avenue Suit with MRP of Rs.10,999/- (which was inclusive of all taxes) after giving a discount of 50%.

 

8.      In this backdrop, the core question which falls for determination is whether the MRP includes all taxes including VAT and whether after discount VAT can be charged or not?

 

9.      It has been contended by the Opposite Party that it had clearly mentioned in the placards displayed in the Store that VAT would be charged extra over the discounted sale price, therefore, no unfair trade practice can be attributable on its part. The Opposite Party has miserably failed to produce on record any cogent, convincing and reliable piece of evidence in the shape of any rules/ instructions authorizing it to levy/ charge the amount of VAT in question on the MRP, which is mentioned as “inclusive of all taxes” from the gullible consumers.

 

10.      The Opposite Party in its defence also pleaded that it charged VAT as per the rules, regulations and provisions of Punjab Value Added Tax 2005. The bare perusal of the provisions of the Act referred, nowhere permits the imposition of tax on the goods which have already been tagged as ‘inclusive of all taxes’. In our opinion the MRP of any product tagged as ‘inclusive of all taxes’ establish that no more tax is required to be levied. The Opposite Party has also not referred to any particular provision which is applicable herein, in order to justify its stand.

 

11.      The Opposite Party also claimed that it has not charged anything above MRP of the Suit in question and thus can impose VAT. This stand of the Opposite Party again is bereft of any vigor as the discount so offered is part and parcel of its promotional policy showing hefty discounts in order to attract/ allure the gullible customers; who approach it under the misleading belief of getting hefty discounts declared by it which comes out to be an illusion when they are forced to pay a good amount of VAT illegally imposed.  We are of the opinion that the discount so offered by the Opposite Party is offered from its own margins as per its own choice and is not pressurized to do so and ones the price of the product is mentioned as ‘inclusive of all taxes’ then none can add even a single penny on account of any tax. It can only be done in regards to the goods/ products where its price does not include all taxes. 

 

12.      In our opinion, there is a difference between the remarks “Retail Price” and “Actual Price” of the goods. The MRP is inclusive of all taxes and a retailer can sell at a price below the MRP (Maximum Retail Price) because MRP is the maximum retail price allowed for that commodity and not the actual price. A retailer can well reduce his margin built into MRP, while on the other hand, the actual price can be much lower than the MRP.

 

13.      After giving our thoughtful consideration, we are of the considered opinion that no one can charge more than the MRP and MRP includes all taxes including VAT/other taxes. When MRP is including all taxes then VAT/other taxes cannot be charged separately. Meaning thereby that MRP includes VAT and after discount no VAT can be charged, so on discounted product also VAT cannot be charged if VAT is included in MRP. 

 

14.      At any rate, if the Opposite Party has offered discount of 50% for an article purchased by the Complainant/Customer, then it (OP) is bound to sell the article(s) after discount. Though Opposite Party had offered 50% discount on the article in question, still it charged 5% extra VAT on discounted price inspite of specific mention “MRP inclusive of all taxes”. When, once it is mentioned as MRP with inclusive of all taxes, charging of 5% VAT or tax, is certainly against the trade practice. Here we are fortified by the similar view taken by the Hon’ble State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Bangalore, in Appeal No. 3723 of 2011, titled as “The Branch Manager, M/s Shirt Palace Branch, Black Bird Showroom Vs. Chandru H.C.”, decided on 16.01.2014.

 

15.      A similar question arose for determination before the Hon’ble State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, U.T. Chandigarh in First Appeal No. 210 of 2015, decided on 01.09.2015 in case titled as “Shoppers Stop and others Versus Jashan Preet Singh Gill and Others”, wherein it has been held that no one can charge more than the MRP and MRP includes all taxes including VAT/other taxes. When MRP is including all taxes then VAT/other taxes cannot be charged separately. In a recent decision in Appeal No.61 of 2016, decided on 18.02.2016, in case titled as “Benetton India Private Limited Vs. Ravinderjit Singh”, the Hon’ble State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, U.T. Chandigarh, while dismissing the appeal filed by the Appellant (Benetton India Pvt. Limited) has held that if it is clearly mentioned as MRP inclusive of all taxes, charging of 5% VAT or tax, is certainly against the trade practice. The ratio of the aforecited judicial pronouncements are squarely applicable to the present lis. Therefore, the act of the Opposite Party in charging VAT on discounted product, clearly proves deficiency in service on its part, which certainly caused immense mental and physical harassment to the Complainant. 

 

16.      For the reasons recorded above, the present complaint of the Complainant deserves to succeed against the Opposite Party, and the same is allowed. The Opposite Party is, jointly and severally, directed:-

[a]  To refund excess charged VAT of Rs.274.98/-to the Complainant  

 

[b]  Pay Rs.3,000/- as compensation on account of deficiency in service and causing mental and physical harassment to the Complainant; 

 

[c] Pay Rs.3,000/- towards costs of litigation;

 

17.      The above said order shall be complied within 30 days of its receipt by the Opposite Party; thereafter, Opposite Party shall be liable for an interest @12% per annum on the amounts mentioned in sub-paras [a] & [b] above from the date of institution of this Complaint, till it is paid, apart from costs of litigation of Rs.3,000/-. 

 

18.      Certified copy of this order be communicated to the parties, free of charge. After compliance file be consigned to record room.

Announced

19^th May, 2016                                          

Sd/-

 (SURJEET KAUR)

PRESIDING MEMBER

 

Sd/-

 (SURESH KUMAR SARDANA)                                                                                                      MEMBER