DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, SANGRUR .
Complaint No. 454
Instituted on: 05.11.2018
Decided on: 25.07.2019
Sukhvir Singh S/o Harjinder Singh R/O #203, Ward No.17, Ram Nagar Basti, Sangrur, District Sangrur. Mobile No.98558-96938.
…. Complainant.
Versus
1. Sahara Credit Cooperation Society Limited through its Branch Manager, B.O. Firni Road, Near Ram Mandir, Sunami Gate, Sangrur.
2. Sahara Credit Cooperation Society Limited through its Managing Director Regd. Office: Sahara India Bhawan, 1, Kapoorthla Complex, Aliganj, Lucknow 226 024.
….Opposite parties.
Counsel for the complainant: Shri Vidhya Sagar, Adv.
Counsel for the OPs : Shri Udit Goyal, Adv.
Quorum
Shri Amrinder Singh Sidhu, President
Ms. Vandana Sidhu, Member
Shri Vinod Kumar Gulati, Member
ORDER BY:
Shri Amrinder Singh Sidhu, President.
1. The complainant filed this complaint pleading that the complainant availed the services of the opposite parties by opening RD account bearing number 63074201308 and membership number 63071200890 on 3.10.2012, the complainant deposited Rs.1000/- per month for 54 months and the date of maturity of the RD account was 3.10.2017. The complainant regularly deposited 54 instalments with the opposite parties and on maturity the complainant would get an amount of Rs.54,000/- (alongwith interest) but the opposite parties failed to pay the maturity amount of Rs.54,000/- alongwith interest to the complainant till date. The complainant has left with no other option but to knock the door of this Forum to get justice. Lastly, the complainant has prayed that the Opposite parties be directed to release the maturity amount of Rs.54,000/- (alongwith interest) and further interest @ 12% per annum from the date of maturity till its realization and to pay Rs.15,000/- on account of mental torture, agony, inconvenience and an amount of Rs.5000/- on account of litigation expenses.
2. After the notice being served upon the opposite parties, the opposite parties appeared through Advocate Shri Udit Goyal and filed written version. In written version taking preliminary objections that the complainant is not a consumer of opposite parties and that if the complainant is a member of the society and has any grievance or dispute with the society, the complainant is bound to refer his dispute before Arbitrator as per Arbitration agreement under clause 10.
3. On merits, it is submitted that only a member of society can avail the benefits of society and the complainant after understanding the bye-laws and objects of the society had become member and being a member of society with membership number 63071200890 he had opened account bearing number 63074201308 with denomination of Rs.1000/- per month under Sahara M Benefit Scheme for 60 months and the complainant deposited Rs.54,000/- with the opposite parties in 54 instalments of Rs.1000/- each. It is stated that the opposite parties agreed to make payment but due to enhance demand amount with additional interest by the complainant the said payment could not be paid by the opposite parties.
4. The complainant has tendered documents Ex.C-1 to Ex.C-5 and closed evidence. The opposite parties have produced Ex.OP-1 to Ex.OP-3 and closed evidence.
5. We have gone through the pleadings of the parties and documents placed on record by the parties as well as heard the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the parties.
6. The learned counsel for the complainant has contended that on assurance of the opposite parties, the complainant availed the services of the opposite parties by opening RD account bearing number 63074201308 and membership number 63071200890 on 13.3.2012, the complainant was to deposit Rs.1000/- per month for 60 months and the date of maturity of RD account was 3.10.2017. The complainant regularly deposited 54 instalments with the opposite parties and on maturity the complainant would get an amount of Rs.54,000/-plus interest due but the opposite parties failed to pay the maturity amount of Rs.54,000/- plus interest to the complainant till date, as such, the learned counsel for the complainant has contended that the complainant is entitle to get the maturity amount along with interest from the opposite parties. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the opposite parties has admitted that the complainant had opened RD account as stated above for Rs.1000/- per month and deposited total amount of Rs.54,000/-. The complainant also got served a legal notice upon the opposite parties on 26.9.2017, a copy of which on record is Ex.C-3 and postal receipts are Ex.C-4. Further it is submitted that the opposite parties agreed to make payment but due to enhance demand amount with additional interest by the complainant the said payment could not be made by the opposite parties.
7. It is proved on record that the complainant deposited with the opposite parties a total amount of Rs.54,000/- under RD account as mentioned above, copy of which on record is Ex.C-5 but the opposite parties failed to pay the due maturity amount along with interest. Though the stand of the opposite parties is that the amount could not be paid due to enhance demand amount with additional interest by the complainant but we are of the considered view that the opposite parties are liable to pay the due amount on maturity date i.e. 3.10.2017. As such, the opposite parties are deficient in service by not paying the requisite maturity amount to the complainant and the Opposite parties are directed to pay to the complainant an amount of Rs.54,000/- (along with interest) and to pay further interest @ 9% per annum on the due amount from the date of maturity i.e. 3.10.2017 till realization. It is further directed to pay a lump sum compensation of Rs.4000/- for mental agony, harassment and litigation expenses. This order be complied with by the opposite parties within 30 days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. A certified copy of this order be issued to the parties free of cost as per rules. File be consigned to records.
Pronounced.
July 25, 2019.
(Vinod Kumar Gulati) (Vandana Sidhu) (Amrinder Singh Sidhu)
Member Member President
