Orissa

Rayagada

CC/62/2018

Lalita Kumar Baidya Bhusan - Complainant(s)

Versus

Simranjeet Singh Chief Executive Sky Auto Mobile Maruti Suzuki - Opp.Party(s)

Self

05 Dec 2018

ORDER

DISTRICT   CONSUMER  DISPUTES REDRESSAL    FORUM, RAYAGADA,

STATE:  ODISHA.

C.C. Case  No. 62 / 2018.                                Date.  05   .  12 . 2018.

P R E S E N T .

Dr. Aswini  Kumar Mohapatra,                   President

Sri GadadharaSahu, .                               Member.

Smt.  Padmalaya  Mishra,                          Member

Sri Lalita Kumar Baidya Bhusan,  At:  Adarsha Nagar,  At: Dera Street,  Po:Gunupur,Dist: .Rayagada,  State:  Odisha.            Pin No. 765 022                                   …….Complainant

Vrs.

1.Sri Simranjeet Singh, Chief Executive, Sky Auto Mobiles, Maruti Suzuki Show Room, Main Road,  Dharma Nagar, Berhampur- 765 002, Dist:Ganjam, Odisha.               .…..Opp.Parties

Counsel for the parties:                         

For the complainant: - Sri Pradeep  Kumar Das,  Advocate, Rayagada..

For the O.Ps :- Set Exparte.

 

 J u d g e m e n t.

 

The present dispute arises out of the complaint petition filed by the above named complainant  alleging deficiency in service  against the afore said O.Ps for non  refund of balance advance amount . The brief facts of the case is briefly summarised  hereunder.

That the complainant has approached  to the O.P. for purchase of  Mahindra Suzuki  Vitra   Brezza  Car. In turn the O.P. has  agreed and suggested to the complainant  to deposit  Rs.21,000/- as an advance for the same. The complainant  on Dt. 22.11.2017  had  transferred the amount a sum of Rs.21,000/- to the account  No. 34252526034 of the  O.P. The O.P. had assured to provide the Car b  10.12.2017    to the complainant.   But till Dt. 21.12.2017 the O.P. could not deliver the  car to the complainant.  For which the complainant has purchased the same from  other agencies.  After purchasing   Car  the complainant   has intimated  to the O.P.  for refund the deposited amount  vide his Letter Dt. 29.1.2018. At last  on DT. 7.2.2018  the O.P.has  refunded Rs.20,000/-, but   could   not   paid the interest on the amount and the balance amount. Hence this C.C. case. The complainant prays the forum direct the O.P. to  refund the  balance advance amount with interest, compensation  and such  other relief  as the forum deems fit and proper for the best interest of justice. 

On being noticed  the O.Ps neither entering in to appear before the forum nor filed their  written version inspite of more than  05 adjournments has been given  to them. Complainant consequently filed his memo and prayer to set exparte of the O.Ps.  Observing lapses of around 5(five) months  for which the objectives  of the legislature of the C.P. Act going to be destroyed to the prejudice of the interest of the complainant.  Hence after hearing  the  counsel for the complainant set the case  exparte against the O.Ps. The action of the O.Ps is against the principles of  natural justice as envisaged  under section  13(2) (b)(ii) of the Act. Hence the O.P. set exparte  as the statutory period  for filing of  written version was over to close the case with in the time frame permitted by the C.P. Act.

          We therefore constrained to  proceed to dispose of the case, on its merit. 

          Heard from the complainant.   We perused the complaint petition and the document filed by the complainant.

         FINDINGS.

                Undisputedly  the   complainant has   credited  Rs.21,000/- on Dt. 22.11.2017 through on line transaction   in the bank account  of the   O.P. (copies of bank  folio  is in the file  which is marked as Annexure-I). Again there is no dispute the O.P. has returned the  amount a sum of Rs.20,000/-  on Dt.7.2.2018 in the bank account of the complainant(copies of the  pass book   is in  the file which is marked as Annexure-2).

It further appears that prior to filing   of complaint, the complainants had issued  E-Mail letter Dt.29.1.2018  through internet  and it was duly served on the O.P.(Copies of the E-Mail letter  is in the file which is marked as Annexure-3)   but they failed to furnish reply to the said letter. Hence it appears that the O.P. has been negligent and callous regarding the complaint of the complainant.

The main grievance of the complainant is that  he has received a sum of Rs.20,000.00 against the  payment of Rs. 21,000/- to the O.P. less than the amount paid by him i.e. Rs. 1,000/- and when asked the reason the O.P. has  silent. Hence the  C.C. petition filed by the complainant  to get  the  balance amount with interest ,  compensation and cost.

In the absence of any denial by way of written version from the side of the  O.P. it is  presumed that the allegations leveled against  the O.Ps deemed  to have been proved. The complainant have produced all the Xerox copies of the  Bank  receipt  and pass book.  Hence it is deemed  that the fact is said to be proved, and this forum considering the above  aspects tendered  in evidence believes it to exist or consider its existence so probable  that under the circumstances of  particular case to act   upon  the supposition that the said  fact  exist.  The complainant had   paid  the amount   for the good service as per receipt which  intended with the O.P. and  the said  payment  is made for the consideration for the said service.  When the O.P. has failed to give such service for which the O.P. has received the amount.  It is deemed that the O.P  is callous to the allegations and it amounts  to deficiency  of service.

Further it is revealed  that  the the O.P. has  received Rs.21,,000/-  on Dt.22.11.2017 from the complainant  and refunded the   amount   Rs.20,000/- to the complainant  through  account transfer on Dt. 7.02.2018   after   2   1/2 months   without interest.

On  perusal of the papers  filed  by the complainant it is revealed that  the actions of the  O.P. is amounts of  unfair trade practice in order to allure the  complainant to purchase  the vehicle and than  grab the money of the complainant, which amounts of cheating and as such the OP diserves punishment. The complainant unnecessarily put to undue harassment, mental agony and  heavy loss for which  OP is  liable to pay compensation for damages to the complainant. Undoubtedly such whimsical act of the  O.P. is within the ambit of  Section   2(1)(4)(1)(v) and 2(1)(r) (3)(b) of the C.P. Act which  is related to unfair  trade practice and which is corresponding  to section  36 A of the Monopoly Restricted  Trade Practice M.R.T.P. act of 1969 under part- A of Chapter-III of the said act.

We observed  there  is gross  negligence, on the part  of the O.P.  The  O.P  is  thus clearly deficient in rendering service, to the complainant, as a result  where  as   the consumer suffered a lot of mental  agony, financial loss  and harassment. We have no reason to disbelieve the inconvenience caused to the complainant and the expenses incurred by them.  We  observed that  this is  a fit case   in which compensation should be awarded, and  at the  same time  we  expect  such type complaint would not continue in future to the consumers.

In the above facts, circumstances  & on perusal of the record, the complaint petition,   documents,    there  exists a strong “prima-facie” case in favor of the complainant.

Hence  to  meet the  ends of justice, the following order is passed.                                                                                           ORDER.

            In  resultant  the petition of the complainant stands  allowed exparte against  the O.P.

            The O.P. is ordered to refund a sum of Rs.1,000/- to  the  complainant  towards   advance amount   with interest @   Rs. 9 %  per annum  from  22.11.2017 to  till  realization.

            The  O.P is  further ordered to pay  interest  @ 9 % per annum on the amount a sum of Rs.20,000/- from Dt. 22.11.2017  till  7.02.2018, besides Rs.1,000/- towards litigation expenses.

            The O.P  is  ordered to comply the above direction within one month from the date of  receipt of this order.   Service the copies of the order to the parties.

Dictated  and  corrected  by  me.

            Pronounced on this      5^th.    .    Day of    December, 2018.

 

 

MEMBER.                                            MEMBER.                                            PRESIDENT.