DISTRICT  CONSUMER  DISPUTES  REDRESSAL  COMMISSION,

                                          PATIALA                                                

                                             Consumer Complaint No.226 dt.28/06/2019

                                                                Decided on:   09/04/2021

Lakshmi Rani wife of Nand Kishore Residence of House No.775/5 Upkar Nagar, Factory Area, Patiala Tehsil and District Patiala.

                                                                             ...Complainant

                                      Versus 

1.    Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd. Regd. Office: Sahara India

       Bhawan, 1, Kaapoorthala Complex, Aliganj, Lucknow through its     

       Managing Director; 226024.

 2.     Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd. Branch Office  Opposite Polo 

       Ground, Patiala Tehsil and District Patiala, through its Branch Manager.

….Opposite parties.

                                Complaint under Section 11 to 14 of the 

                                Consumer Protection Act, 1986.  

QUORUM

                                Sh. Jasjit Singh Bhinder, President                                                              Sh. Vinod Kumar  Gulati, Member 

ARGUED BY:

Sh. G. S. Shergill Adv. counsel for complainant.

Sh. Dhiraj Puri Adv. counsel for the Opposite Parties.

ORDER

                              JASJIT  SINGH BHINDER,  PRESIDENT

1.                  Complainant has filed this complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, (hereinafter referred to as the Act) against the Opposite Parties namely Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd. & Ors. ( hereinafter referred to as the OPs) on the ground that complainant availed the services of the OPs by investing an amount of Rs.86,400/- vide policy/FDR. The date of maturity of the said FDR was 02/05/2018 and maturity value of the FDR is Rs.1,04,630/-. After due date of said FDR the complainant submitted all the relevant documents with OP no.2 for releasing the amount. The complainant requested the OPs so many times to release the maturity amount but they failed to do so. Thus, alleging deficiency in service on the part of the Ops,  the complainant has prayed that the opposite parties be directed to release the maturity amount of FDR i.e. Rs.1,04,630/- along with interest and to pay Rs.50,000/- on account of mental torture, agony, inconvenience and an amount of Rs.22,000/- on account of litigation expenses. 

2.                  In reply filed by the Ops, preliminary objections are taken up on the grounds that the complainant is not a consumer as the complainant is a member of the society and if any member of the society has any grievance then he should go to the arbitrator for arbitration. On merits, it is stated that the complainant being the member of the society vide membership number 25921400376 had chosen to invest amount in Sahara Plan in the shape of FDR at Branch office Patiala of Society. It is further submitted that the maturity value of accounts was as per the terms and conditions of scheme. It is prayed that complaint is baseless, hence complainant is not entitled to any relief and the same is liable to be dismissed. 

3                    The learned counsel for the parties produced their respective evidence before this Commission in the shape of documents and affidavits. 

4.                  We have heard the ld. counsel for the complainant and have also gone through the record of the case, carefully.  

5.                  To prove the case, ld. Counsel for the complainant has tendered Ex.CA is the affidavit of the complainant where in he has deposed as per his complaint and Ex.C-1 is the copy of passbook. Learned counsel for the complainant has argued that the complainant has deposited Rs.86,400/- vide FDR which was issued by the OP no.2 in favour of the complainant. Further it is contended that the complainant approached the OPs and requested OP number 2 to release the maturity amount of the FDR, but the amount was not paid despite approaching the OPs. On the other hand, the OPs have  tendered Ex.OPA affidavit of Rajiv Kumar Shukla along with documents Ex.OP-1 copy of authority letter and Ex.OP-2 copy of application form along with terms and conditions.

6.             It is proved on record that the complainant deposited with the opposite parties a total amount of Rs.86400/- vide copy of passbook Ex.C-1. Opposite parties failed to pay the due amount along with interest.  So it is clear that the OPs have defrauded the complainant despite the fact that amount was received but OPs have not made the payment.

7.             In view of our above discussion, we allow the complaint and direct the OPs to pay to the complainant an amount of Rs.86,400/- along with interest @ 9% per annum from 02/05/2018 till realization.  It is further directed to pay to the complainant an amount of Rs.5000/- as compensation for mental agony, harassment and further an amount of Rs.5000/- on account of litigation expenses.  This order be complied with by the opposite parties within 60 days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. 

ANNOUNCED*   

Dated: 09/04/2021          

                               (Vinod Kumar Gulati)               (Jasjit Singh Bhinder)

                                             Member                                           President