Kerala

StateCommission

A/08/342

Vaidyar Haji A.K.Ibrahim Gurukkal - Complainant(s)

Versus

Shajeer - Opp.Party(s)

S.Reghukumar

11 Mar 2010

ORDER

First Appeal No. A/08/342
(Arisen out of Order Dated 25/02/2008 in Case No. OP 159/02 of District Wayanad)
1. Vaidyar Haji A.K.Ibrahim Gurukkalshifa dhawa khana kalari marmachikilsalayam, emili kalppatta 673121wayanaduKerala ...........Appellant(s)

Versus
1. Shajeers/o abdul khareem kaippallil house ayiramkolli ambalavayal po sulthanbatheryKerala ...........Respondent(s)

BEFORE :
HONORABLE SRI.S.CHANDRAMOHAN NAIR PRESIDING MEMBER
PRESENT :

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ORDER

 

 
KERALA STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION
             VAZHUTHACAUDTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM
 
                                     APPEAL NO.342/08
                             JUDGMENT DATED 11.3.10
 
PRESENT
 
SMT.VALSALA SARANGADHARAN                -- MEMBER
SRI.S.CHANDRAMOHAN NAIR                         -- MEMBER
 
Vaidyar Haji A.K.Ibrahim Gurukkal
Shifa Dhawa Khana Kalary Marma                          -- APPELLANT
Chikilsalayam, Emily, Kalpetta.P.O
673 121.
   (By Adv.Shyam Padman & Ors.)
         
                   Vs.
Shajeer, S/0 Abdul Kareem,
Kalpallil House, Ayiramkolly,                                 -- RESPONDENT
Ambalavayal.P.O, Sulthan Bathery.
                                                                                       
 
                                           JUDGMENT   
 
SRI.S.CHANDRAMOHAN NAIR,MEMBER
 
          By the order dated 25.2.08 in OP.159/02   the CDRF, Wayanad,   has directed the opposite party to pay to the complainant a sum of Rs.8000/- towards the value of medicines and other expenses met by him and another sum of Rs. 15,000/- towards compensation for future treatment with cost of Rs.1,000 to be paid within one month from the date of the order. It is aggrieved by the said directions that the present appeal is filed by the opposite party calling for the  interference of this Commission as to the sustainability of the order passed by the forum below.
          2. It is the case of the complainant that consequent to a fall while playing football and sustaining  injuries  he was taken to the FathimaMathaHospital, Kalpetta where from he was taken to the opposite party on 12.2.01. The complaint alleges that though he was treated for a pretty long period from 12.2.01 to 15.6.01 and continued the treatment he had undergone a reduction in length of the leg by 3cms. and   had to undergo  a further surgical intervention for the proper union of the bones, which would cost more than Rs.25,000/-.    Alleging deficiency in service, the complaint was filed praying for directions to the opposite party to refund the sum of Rs.20,000/- received from the complainant and also to pay Rs.10,000/- towards the expenses met by him for purchasing medicines with 18% interest and to pay a compensation of Rs.1,50,000/- for the mental agony and other difficulties endured by him. He has also prayed that opposite party be directed to pay another sum of Rs.25,000/- for the future treatment and to pay Rs.2500/- towards cost of the proceedings before the forum.
          3. The opposite party filed version denying the allegations in the complaint. It was submitted that the complainant was practicing medicine under Parambarya Vaidya Kalari (traditional) and that it was at the desire of the complainant that he had imparted treatment to the complainant.   It was further submitted that the complainant had undergone treatment as an inpatient only from 12.2.01 to 12.4.01 and was discharged on 12.4.01 with directions to continue the treatment at his residence. It was also submitted that at the time of discharge the fracture was properly reduced and the leg was put in a cast. The contention of the opposite party is that there was no deficiency in service on his part  and that after the discharge, the complainant did not turn  up for any further treatment and it was only on getting a notice dated 8.11.01 received from the complainant that he came to know about the difficulties or deformities caused to the complainant.    Contending that the complaint is ill motivated and that the complainant had not suffered any defects at the hands of the opposite party he prayed for dismissal of the complaint with costs.
          4. The evidence consisted of the oral testimony of the complainant as PW1 and the   examination of PW2 to PW4. Exts.A1 to A9 were marked on the side of the complainant. On the side of the opposite party, the opposite party himself was examined as OPW1, and documents B1 to B12 were marked. It is based on the said evidence that the forum below passed the impugned order.
          5. Heard the learned counsel for the appellant. Though notice was served twice and received by the respondent there was no representation from the side of the respondent. The learned counsel for the appellant vehemently argued before us that the order of the forum below is illegal and un-sustainable on the ground that the forum has filed in appreciating the evidence,  probabilities and the legal principles applicable in the case. It is his very case that the complaint   is not maintainable before the Forum  as there is no payment of consideration by the complainant. He argued that the complainant was treated free of cost and that the complainant had tried to mislead the forum below by representing that he had been under treatment from 12.2.01 to 15.6.01 as here as the actual fact and admitted by PW1 is that he was treated by the opposite party only from 12.2.01 to 12.4.01. The learned counsel invited our attention  the page 13 of the cross examination of PW1 where he had categorically admitted that there was no deficiency in service treatment from the side of opposite party and argued that the forum below had ignored the said admission of the complainant. He has also argued that the forum below was heavily relying on the evidence of PW3 who had been in antagonistic terms with the opposite parties/appellant.   He argued that there was a tussle between the Ayurvedic system of medicine and the =TC?bC_ /U*UOH style. It is his further case that the complainant had a fall during May 2001 for which he had undergone treatment and that can be a reason for the defects if any caused to the complainant and the opposite party cannot be mutated with any liabilities. He has also attacked the order for payment of Rs.8000/- towards medicines and the compensation of Rs.15,000/- with cost of Rs.1000/- submitting  that they are baseless and unsustainable.
          6. On hearing the learned counsel for the appellant and also on perusing the records, we find that the complainant had been admitted by the opposite party for treatment on 12.2.01 after the complainant’s fall while he was playing  football.    It is also noted that the complainant was taken immediately to FathimaHospital where from he was taken to the opposite party as the said hospital had demanded Rs.10,000/- for immediate treatment. It is also seen that the complainant himself had admitted that he was taken  from the said hospital to the opposite party. The complainant has stated “ "Dca FCVC^ 8WJ/ba =WL8a8EkUeWtTBUCWkVDc `=9AFW`FXGBW[3 @T,ATBV "Dca\<[C=V3V/baE/ba ?TN\NL1a$ea[*eV& >TfUAT #FW=`8UBUO<VkW^ =8U[<TkT^ 8VB8U8[k 5UHa/TM1a[/Ba8W&   It is noted that the complainant was admitted by the opposite party only on 12.2.01.    The learned counsel for the appellant has argued that the complainant was treated in the opposite party hospital till 12.4.01 according to the traditional line of treatment and at the time of discharge the complainant had no complaints regarding the treatment. It is also noted that the complainant had raised the complaints regarding malunion of the born only much latter.  It is to be found that the complainant has made a mis-representation before the forum below that he was under treatment till 15.6.01 from 11.2.01. However, the same is seen corrected in cross examination. The complainant has later admitted that he was treated only from 12.2.01 to 12.4.01. On a perusal of the cross examination of PW1, the complainant, it is noted that the complainant had approached the opposite party fully knowing that he was rendering only parambariya chikilsa.   The complainant has deposed “!BTP =TC?C_/U* UOH <3fWk8a "ka A<HaHUDTBU& <Dc <UDBUO =TC?C_/U*UOOH [/BbWk #JTCT7a "k\<ZGU/b\gTKT7a "8Y*RU[B*WLU/ba EUEC^*UeUB8a  Hence It is to be found that the complainant and his relatives went to the opposite party knowing fully well that the opposite party was  a reputed person in the traditional treatment. On a further perusal, we find that the complainant has admitted that on starting the treatment the pain was reduced. He has himself admitted that \E:< =UkV3a `*AfU<<WHCU/ba *WLiWEkW& "8_*RUBW[3 \HE<^[*Tta !HW+^ ATLWk8TBV \8TkVBUCWkW& <TDwaATH^a #B\gT\KdW^ =CHITB^ *X3T[8 <3dT<Wm !EHa9BUO"fU& !8U<W\FG^ /V*VOH EVeUO 8W3MkTO A8U "ka"8_*RU=LiW& #FW=`8UBUOE/ba /U*UOHBUO =UK[ETkW^ EkUeUDc&     Hence we find force in the arguement of the learned counsel that at the time of discharge the complainant was not suffering any serious difficulties. The learned counsel invited our attention to page 14 of the complaint  where the complainant has stated   “ EVeUOEka CtaATH^ *KUi\gTKT7a HZHa9ATBU $CUdW\yTKW^\E:< %tTETN8W3hUB8a&   )CW :UEH^ \E:< [=eka *X3W*BT7a %tTB8a&    This statement of the complainant has to be read with the contention of the opposite party that the complainant had a fall after the discharge from the hospital. Though the complainant had not stated about the fall anywhere in the complaint, the very statement that it was on a particular day that the pain became very insufferable gives some force to the arguments of the learned counsel for the appellant. Moreover, it is  found that the complainant was treated by his parents also and the opposite party has a case that it is because of the improper handing of the bandage by the complainant that the complainant had suffered the alleged discomfort of the reduction of length by 3 cms.   The complainant had admitted in cross examination that it was his father and mother who used to redo the  bandage. The complainant has deposed “hospital -   O <UkaEkaCta ATH^ *KUiT7a $h[<[/BbTN 8W3hUB8a & !h[< )CW ATH\fTJ^ [/Ba8W !h[< [/Ba8WEC[EBT7a [=eka \E:<ECW*BW^ <VCWECU*BW^ [/Ba88a& In the back drop of the above deposition made by the complainant, we find that the complainant was discharged from the hospital after   satisfactory treatment   by the opposite party.     It is also found that it was much latter that the complainant had raised grievance of severe pain on the injured part. Though the witness 3 and 4 would support the case of the complainant that it was because of the treatment of the opposite party that the shortening of the length by 3 cms. had occurred to the complainant we find that the complaint himself has admitted that when he was discharged from the hospital of the opposite party he was comfortable and during the treatment the pain was decreasing and there was no deficiency  of treatment on the part of the opposite party. In the said circumstances, we find that the opposite party cannot be found fault with for the difference in length, if any, suffered by the complainant. It is observed that the forum has failed in appreciating the evidence of PW1, the complainant, in  the process of adjudication.
          7. The forum below had directed the opposite party to pay Rs.8.000/- for the cost of medicines and other expenses. It has also awarded Rs.15,000/- towards compensation for further treatment. It is found that the opposite party cannot be held responsible for the defects, if any, of the complainant. Hence the directions contained in the order are liable to be set aside and we do so accordingly.     
          In the result, the appeal is allowed. The order dated 25.2.08 in OP.159/02 of CDRF, Wayanad (Kalpetta) is set aside. In the facts and circumstances of the present appeal, the parties are directed to suffer their respective costs.
 
 
S.CHANDRAMOHAN NAIR   -- MEMBER
 
                             VALSALA SARANGADHARAN      -- MEMBER
 
 
 
PRONOUNCED :
Dated : 11 March 2010

[HONORABLE SRI.S.CHANDRAMOHAN NAIR]PRESIDING MEMBER