Punjab

Ludhiana

CC/23/270

Mahesh Shah - Complainant(s)

Versus

Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd - Opp.Party(s)

Sharwan Sehgal

01 Mar 2024

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, LUDHIANA.

                                                Complaint No: 270 dated 11.07.2023.                                                        Date of decision: 01.03.2024. 

Mahesh Shah Aged about 46 years Son of Shri Jakhari Shah, Resident of Gali No.3, Darshan Singh Da Beda, Laxmi Colony, Kohara, Ludhiana.       

Aadhar Card No.6952 8045 8001.

Mobile No.77175-96474.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ..…Complainant

                                                Versus

1. Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Limited, Registered office at Sahara India Bhawan, 1, Kapoorthala Complex, Aliganj, Lucknow-226024, through its Director.

Complaint Under Section 35 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

QUORUM:

SH. SANJEEV BATRA, PRESIDENT

MS. MONIKA BHAGAT, MEMBER

COUNSEL FOR THE PARTIES:

For complainant             :         Ms. Shruti Sethi, Advocate.

For OPs                          :         Sh. Sandeep K. Shukla, Advocate.

 

ORDER

PER MONIKA BHAGAT, MEMBER

 

1.                Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the agent of the opposite parties approached the complainant and allured him to deposit his savings with them and opted for recurring deposit scheme being run by the OPs. The complainant stated that he started the scheme on 28.09.2016 to be ended on 28.09.2022 vide account No.60656201985. The complainant used to deposit the amount from time to time and deposited Rs.69,000/- with the opposite parties which were to be paid to him on date of maturity but nothing has been paid till date. On completion of RD period, the complainant contacted the opposite parties to release his amount but they prolonged the matter on one pretext or the other and refused to honour their legal liability. Therefore, the complainant filed the present complaint asserting that the act and conduct of the opposite parties amounts to deficiency of service and further prayed for paying the maturity amount along with interest and compensation to the tune of Rs.3,00,000/- on account of mental pain, agony and harassment.

2.                Upon notice, the opposite parties appeared and filed a joint written statement by taking preliminary objection that the complainant is not a Consumer of the opposite parties. The opposite parties is a society duly registered under “Multi State Co-operative Society Act, 2002” (hereinafter called as Act) and the complainant being member of the society cannot be considered as a Consumer within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act. The opposite parties also further took the objection that there exists an Arbitration clause as contemplated in the Section 84 of the said Act, the dispute is liable to be referred to the Arbitrator. On merits, the opposite parties could not deny the investment made by the complainant with them. So the opposite parties prayed for dismissal of the complaint.

3.                In evidence, the complainant tendered his affidavit as Ex. CA and reiterated his averments of the complaint. The complainant also placed on record copy of passbook of UCO Bank as Ex. C1, copy of his PAN Card as Ex. C2 and copy of passbook issued by the OPs as Ex. C3 and closed the evidence.

4.                On the other hand, along with the written statement, the opposite parties relied upon a short affidavit as Ex. RA submitted by Sh. Shiv Ram Gupta, authorized representative of the opposite parties and closed the evidence.

5.                We have heard the counsel for the parties and also perused and examined the record and following points of determination arises there from:-

(i) Whether the complainant being the member of Sahara Credit Co-operative Society Limited was required to avail the remedy provided under this Act instead of filing the present complaint?

(ii) Whether there is a deficiency in service on the part of the opposite parties, if so, its effect?

6.                The counsel for the opposite parties had vehemently argued that the grievance of the complainant can only be redressed by availing remedy under the Act which expressly bars the jurisdiction of the civil court including that of this Commission. In support of the arguments, he relied upon the following citations:-

a.         M/s. Anjana Abraham Chembethil Vs The Managing Director of Koothattukulam Farmers Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. in Revision Petition No.4871 of 2012 decided on 02.09.2013

b.        2017(2) C.P.R. 246 in Andhra Bank and others Vs Akhil Bhartiya Brahamina Karivena Nitya Annadana Satram Srisallam and another

c.         1998(1) C.P.C. 675 in Indrapuri Nagari Sahakari Pat Sanstha Limited Vs Shri Suryakant Ramchandra Gomase

d.        Smt. Paramita Deb Vs The Sector Head in Case No.A.2.2021 decided on 10.05.2021 by the Hon’ble Tripura State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Agartala.

7.                On the other hand, the counsel for the complainant contends that the existence of alternative relief does not bar the complainant to avail remedies under the Consumer Protection Act.

8.                We have considered the contentions of the counsel for both the parties and are of the opinion that there is a force in the contentions of the counsel for the complainant. The Consumer Protection Act being a special enactment created an Additional remedy in favour of the consumers to raise consumer disputes before the Consumer Commissions constituted under this Act. Section 100 of the Consumer Protection Act provides that the provision of this act shall be in Addition to and not in  derogation of provisions of any other law for the time being in force. In this regard, a reference can be made the law laid down in Mandatai Sambha Ji Pawar and another Vs State of Maharashtra passed in Writ Petition No.117 of 2011 decided on 03.05.2011 by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court whereby it has been held that the remedy under Consumer Protection Act is a remedy in Addition to the remedy provided under Section 91 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act and the jurisdiction of the Consumer Forum and other authorities under Consumer Protection Act is not excluded expressly or by necessary implication by section 91 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act. In this regard, a reference can also be made to the law laid down in decision of the Supreme Court in Secretary, Thirumurugan Co-operative Agricultural Society vs. M. Lalitha, 2004 (1) SCC 305 whereby also it was held that the remedy available under Consumer Protection Act 1986 for redressal of disputes are in Addition to the remedy available under the Co-operative Societies Act and Section 156 of the Co-operative Societies Act cannot stand in the way of filing a complaint under Consumer Protection Act. Therefore, it cannot be said that against the Cooperative Society, the complaint is not maintainable under the Consumer Protection Act.

9.                It was the bounden duty of the opposite parties to honour the contractual obligation within the stipulated time. Even the opposite parties have not specifically denied the investment made by the complainant with them nor lead any evidence in this regard. The act and conduct of the opposite parties firstly inducing the complainant by lucrative offer to invest his hard earned money and then subsequently delaying agreed payment amounts to deficiency in service. Rather it appears that the opposite parties had dishonest intentions to cheat since the inception of the dealing between the parties. 

10.              Moreover, it has also not been disputed that as per copy of the passbook Ex. C3 issued by the OPs reveals that the total amount of Rs.69,000/- was deposited by the complainant with the opposite parties. As per copy of passbook of recurring deposit Ex. C3 shows that the complainant deposited a total sum of Rs.69,000/- from 28.09.2016 to 29.09.2018 with the opposite parties which they were supposed to pay to the complainant on the maturity. The said amount was not released by the opposite parties despite the repeated requests and visits by the complainant. The act and conduct of the opposite parties firstly inducing the complainant by lucrative offer to invest his hard earned money and then subsequently delaying agreed payment amounts to deficiency of service. Rather it appears that the opposite parties had dishonest intentions to cheat since the inception of the dealing between the parties.  In these circumstances, it would be just and proper if the opposite parties are directed to pay  Rs.69,000/- to the complainant  along with interest @8% per annum from 28.09.2016 till date of actual payment along with composite costs of Rs.10,000/-.

11.              As a result of above discussion, the complaint is partly allowed with an order that the opposite parties shall be jointly and severally liable to pay the invested amount of Rs.69,000/- to the complainant  along with interest @8% per annum from 28.09.2016 till date of actual payment. The opposite parties shall further pay a composite compensation of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) to the complainant. Compliance of order be made within 30 days from the date of receipt of copy of the order. Copies of order be supplied to parties free of costs as per rules. File be indexed and consigned to record room.

 

(Monika Bhagat)                                (Sanjeev Batra) 

Member                                             President 

 

Announced in Open Commission.

Dated:01.03.2024.

Gobind Ram.