| Final Order / Judgement | DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, BATHINDA CC.No.503 of 04-11-2015 Decided on 03-01-2017 Satpal aged about 33 years S/o Raja Ram S/o Assa Ram R/o Village Chakkan, Tehsil Rania, District Sirsa (Haryana). ........Complainant Versus 1.Singla Cold Storage, Tarkhan Wala, Refinery Road, Raman Mandi, Tehsil Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda, through its Proprietor Davinder Pal Singla S/o Roop Lal. 2.Nikhil Singla S/o Devinder Pal Singla, Manager of M/s Singla Cold Storage, Tarkhan Wala, Refinery Road, Raman Mandi, Tehsil Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda. .......Opposite parties Complaint under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 QUORUM Sh.M.P Singh Pahwa, President. Sh.Jarnail Singh, Member. Present:- For the complainant: Sh.Amarjeet Singh, Advocate. For opposite parties: Sh.Shaminder Singh Sohal, Advocate. ORDER Jarnail Singh, Member The complainant Satpal (here-in-after referred to as complainant) has filed this complaint U/s 12 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against opposite parties M/s Singla Cold Store and Other (here-in-after referred to as opposite parties). Briefly stated, the case of the complainant is that he is doing the work of selling the potatoes to earn livelihood for himself and his family. It is alleged that in order to protect his potatoes from the damage, the complainant approached opposite parties in the last week of March 2015, who are running a cold storage under the name of Singla Cold Storage and enquired about the storage of the potatoes in their cold storage. They demanded a sum of Rs.85/- per bag (50 kgs) as charges for keeping the bags of potatoes in their cold storage and half amount of rent charges in advance. The remaining amount of storage charges was payable at the time of delivery of the bags from the cold storage, which was agreed to be taken up to 31.10.2015 and complainant agreed to the same. Opposite parties assured the complainant that they will preserve his potatoes and there will be no damage to the potatoes and assured for best services. It is further alleged that the complainant stored total 885 bags of potatoes in the cold storage on 3.4.2015 and 6.4.2015 and deposited a sum of Rs.40,000/- as advance rent. Some of the receipts are duly singed by opposite party No.2. In the mid of October 2015, the complainant visited the office of opposite parties to get delivery of the stock, but they have been putting off the matter on one or other pretext and failed to handover him the entire stock. The complainant came to know that his stock kept in the cold storage of opposite parties has been completely spoiled as opposite parties have failed to protect the stock by providing the proper services and to maintain the proper cooling in their cold storage and further the cold storage was loaded with the stock of potatoes in comparison to its capacity and cooling, as a result of which, the potatoes of the complainant and other persons have been completely damaged for which opposite parties are only responsible. On this backdrop of facts, the complainant has alleged deficiency in service on the part of opposite parties and has claimed compensation to the tune of Rs.2 lakhs on account of mental tension, harassment etc. and cost of litigation to the tune of Rs.11,000/- and Rs.4,42,500/- as loss suffered by him due to damage of his 885 bags of potatoes. Hence, this complaint. Upon notice, opposite parties appeared through their counsel and contested the complaint by filing their written version. In their joint written version, opposite parties have raised the legal objections that this complaint has been filed by the complainant only to injure their goodwill and reputation. This complaint is false, frivolous and vexatious to the knowledge of the complainant. As such, opposite parties are entitled to get special costs from the complainant U/s 26 of 'Act'. The intricate questions of law and facts are involved in this complaint, which require voluminous documents and evidence for determination that is not possible in the summary procedure under 'Act' and appropriate remedy, if any, lies only in the civil court. It is pleaded that the complainant has concealed the material facts and documents from this Forum and opposite parties. As such, he is not entitled to any relief. He has concealed the fact that he has stored the potatoes without proper weight, in wet, poor and smeared condition. This fact is within the knowledge of the complainant. This fact is clearly mentioned on the receipts issued to him and it was brought by opposite parties to his notice, but he alongwith other farmers made agitation against opposite parties. As such, under the compelled circumstances, opposite parties stored the wet, smeared and poor condition potatoes. He wanted to misuse the process of law to get undue gain and benefit from opposite parties. He is not a consumer of opposite parties. He has no locus-standi or cause-of-action to file this complaint against opposite parties. On merits, it is denied that opposite parties got deposited a sum of Rs.40,000/- from the complainant in advance. The complainant himself did not turn up to lift his potatoes as he was fully aware of the fact that his potatoes were in damaged condition. The complainant has forced opposite parties to pay the price of his smeared potatoes. As such, opposite parties have already filed civil suit for declaration and permanent injunction, which is pending in the court of Sh.Suresh Kumar, Ld. Civil Judge (Junior Division), Bathinda. It is further mentioned that the price of the seed/ration potatoes is only Rs.1.50/- per kg. After controverting all other averments, opposite parties have reiterated their stand as taken in the legal objections and detailed above and in the end, they have prayed for dismissal of complaint. Parties were afforded opportunities to produce evidence. In support of his claim, the complainant has tendered into evidence his own affidavits dated 2.11.2015 and 8.1.2016, (Ex.C1 and Ex.C2); Affidavit of Ranvir Singh dated 8.1.2016, (Ex.C3); stock receipts, (Ex.C4 to Ex.C9); photocopy of adhaar card, (Ex.C10) and closed the evidence. In order to rebut this evidence, opposite parties have tendered into evidence Photocopy of civil suit, (Ex.OP1/1); certified copy of civil suit, (Ex.OP1/2); photocopy of conditions, (Ex.OP1/2); photocopies of gate pass, (Ex.OP1/3 to Ex.OP1/6); affidavit of Jagtar Singh dated 12.4.2016, (Ex.OP1/7); photocopy of letter alongwith rate list, (Ex.OP1/8); affidavit of Devinder Pal Singla dated 15.7.2016, (Ex.OP1/9) and closed the evidence. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and gone through the file carefully. Learned counsel for the complainant has reiterated his stand as taken in the complaint and detailed above. It is further submitted by the learned counsel for the complainant that the complainant has pleaded in the complaint that he is doing the work of selling the potatoes to earn livelihood for himself and his family. Therefore, he falls within the definition of 'consumer' as defined under 'Act'. Other facts are not categorically disputed by opposite parties. The complainant has pleaded that he stored potatoes. The receipts, (Ex.C4 to Ex.C9) also prove this fact. It is not disputed that when the complainant approached opposite parties to take delivery of the potatoes, same were not delivered and these were found damaged. Opposite parties want to take shelter of the remarks mentioned in the receipts wherein it is shown as 'poor' and 'dagi' (damaged). They have intentionally mentioned this fact. In case, the potatoes were not fit for the storage, opposite parties were not to store the same. The complainant was also not to pay the huge amount as storage charges, which is admittedly @ Rs.85/- per bag. Therefore, his claim cannot be denied only for the reason that opposite parties have remarked 'poor' and 'dagi' (damaged) in the receipts. Opposite parties are trying to take shelter under the condition got printed on the backside of the receipts. These conditions are not signed by the complainant. Therefore, he is not bound by these conditions. Moreover as per these conditions also, opposite parties were saved from the loss when the loss was due to some circumstances beyond their control. Some circumstances are also mentioned, which are due to power failure, natural calamity and such type of other circumstances. As such, opposite parties cannot escape from their liability on the grounds mentioned in these terms and conditions also. When the potatoes were admittedly damaged, deficiency in service on the part of opposite parties stands established. The complainant has alleged that he has paid Rs.40,000/- as part of advance rent, receipts, (Ex.C4 to Ex.C6) acknowledges the payment of amount in advance To support these submissions, learned counsel for complainant has cited 2012 (3) CPJ 248 Punjab Agri Food Parks Ltd. & Anr. Vs. Gurdeep Singh; 1998 (1) CPJ 542 Himalaya Cold Storages & Ors. Vs. P. Lakshminarayan; 2013 (3) CLT 461 Subodh Chandel and Another Vs. The President District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum and others; 2004 (2) CPJ 692 Himalaya Food Co. Vs. Dhanpat & Ors; 2008 (1) CLT 592 Sanjay Kumar Vs. Vinod Kumar Yadav. On the other hand, learned counsel for opposite parties has submitted that the complainant is required to prove his case by affirmative evidence. No findings can be returned in his favour on the basis of conjectures and surmises. Before claiming any relief from this Forum, the complainant is required to prove himself as 'consumer'. As per complainant, he has got stored 885 bags of potatoes with opposite parties but 882 bags were stored as per receipts produced by the complainant and he has also alleged that he has suffered huge loss. Therefore, this fact shows that service of storage of potatoes was for commercial purpose. Therefore, the complainant does not fall within the definition of 'consumer'. As per complainant, he went to take delivery in the mid of October 2015 and found that the entire lot has damaged. He has relied upon receipts, (Ex.C4 to Ex.C9), although to prove storage of potatoes, but in these receipts, the conditions of potatoes is also recorded as 'poor and 'dagi' (damaged). Therefore, loss to the stocks was only for the reason that these were in smear/poor condition at the time of storage. Opposite parties have also deposed on oath that the complainant was aware that in case of damage, opposite parties will not be responsible. As per conditions mentioned on the backside of receipts as proved as Ex.OP1/2, opposite parties will not be responsible for any loss due to circumstances beyond their control. Although in these conditions power failure, natural calamity are specifically mentioned, but it is further mentioned that in case of such other circumstances also, opposite parties will not be responsible. The loss to the stocks of the complainant was only due to the fact that the same were in the wet/ damage condition at the time of storage. As such, opposite parties are not responsible for any loss. It is also submitted by learned counsel for opposite parties that opposite parties have placed on record gate pass, (Ex.OP1/3 to Ex.OP1/6), which prove that there was not any damage to the stock of other persons and the stock of other persons was delivered on 28.10.2015 and thereafter. One Jagtar Singh has also furnished his affidavit wherein he has admitted that he stored his potatoes in the cold store of opposite parties and received the delivery in safe and good condition and damage to the stock of the complainant was only due to the fact that the same were stored in smear condition and under the pressure of agitation by the farmers. As such, it is proved that there was no loss to the other farmers, who have stored the potatoes in good condition. At the last limb of his arguments, learned counsel for opposite parties has submitted that the complainant has claimed damages at excessive rate. As per complainant, he approached opposite parties to take part delivery in the mid of October 2015. Therefore, the rate prevailing in the month of October 2015 is relevant to determine the rate of potatoes. Opposite parties have placed on record average rate from the month of July 2015 onwards and it was Rs.350/- per quintile in the month of July 2015 and Rs.250/- per quintile in the month of August 2015. We have given careful consideration to these submissions and gone through the cases law cited by the learned counsel for the complainant. Before coming to the main relief, it is to be seen whether the complainant falls within the definition of 'consumer' or not. Complainant has pleaded in his complaint that he is doing the work of selling the potatoes to earn livelihood for himself and his family. In case of Subodh Chandel and Another Vs. The President District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum and others (Supra), Hon'ble Allahabad High Court observed that farmers, who stores his agriculture produce in cold storage for hire, to be taken out at a later point of time for getting in higher return would fall within explanation of Section 2 (1) (d) of 'Act' as a 'consumer' and plea of opposite parties that hiring of cold storage by farmers is a commercial use, was rejected. Therefore, keeping in view the pleadings of the complainant and above observations of Hon'ble Allahabad High Court, only conclusion is that the complainant falls within the definition of 'consumer'. Now, coming to the main controversy. Of-course, the complainant has pleaded that he has stored 885 bags of potatoes with opposite parties, but counsel for opposite parties has submitted that actually, 882 potatoes bags were stored. The complainant has wrongly mentioned number of bags, but actually, this was serial numbers of bill book. Counsel for the complainant has not disputed this fact. Therefore, it is held that the complainant stored 882 bags of potatoes with opposite parties. The complainant has produced on record receipts, (Ex.C4 to Ex.C9) issued by opposite parties, which prove that he stored the potatoes. He has alleged that the stored potatoes suffered damage due to negligence of opposite parties. Opposite parties have also not disputed that the potatoes stood damaged. The contention of opposite parties is that these were stored in poor condition and complainant is responsible for consequences. Of-course, in receipts, (Ex.C4 to Ex.C9), it is mentioned that potatoes are in 'poor' and 'dagi' (damaged) condition, but extent of damage is nowhere mentioned. It is also not the case of opposite parties that at that time the potatoes were not fit for storage. The conditions printed on the receipts issued by opposite parties are proved by them. It is mentioned that the owner will not be responsible, but this condition is in continuation of earlier part wherein it is mentioned that in case of loss of size/weight, owner of cold store will not be responsible. The owner of cold store (opposite parties) was exempted from the loss only when it is due to circumstances beyond their control, but there is nothing to show that the loss is due to circumstances beyond their control. In these circumstances, the contention of opposite parties that it is not negligent/liable for damage is not acceptable. The damage to the stored potatoes amounts to deficiency in service on their part. The complainant is entitled to compensation for this loss. Now, point for determination is amount of compensation for which the complainant is entitled to. Opposite parties have tendered into evidence rate list, (Ex.OP1/8), which shows that the rate of potatoes was Rs.350/- per quintile in the month of July 2015; Rs.250/- per quintile in the month of August 2015 and Rs.350/- per quintile in the month of September 2015 and Rs.450/- per quintile in the month of October 2015. The delivery was to be made in the month of June/October 2015 and as per plaint, (Ex.OP1/2) also, the goods were stored up to 31.10.2015. As per rate list, the rate of potatoes is as Rs.450/- per quintile in the month of October 2015. It is also matter of common knowledge that the rate of seeds potatoes is higher side from the rate of ration potatoes. Its rate is assessed as Rs.600/- per quintile. As per receipts, 661 bags of ration potatoes were stored. The complainant has mentioned the weight of his 234 bags of potatoes as 35 kg. The total weight of 234 bags of ration potatoes is worked out 81.90 quintile and its value @ 450/- per quintile is worked out Rs.36,855/-. The complainant has mentioned the weight of his 150 bags of potatoes as 31 kg. The total weight of 150 bags of ration potatoes is worked out 46.50 quintile and its value @ 450/- per quintile is worked out Rs.20,925/-. The complainant has not mentioned the weight of his remaining bags. It is fairly admitted that the weight of normal bag of potatoes is 40 kg. The total weight of 277 bags of ration potatoes is worked out 110.80 quintile and its value @ 450/- per quintile is worked out Rs.49,860/-. The rate of 221 bags of seeds potatoes is worked out 40 X 221=88.40 quintile and its value @ Rs.600/- per quintile comes to Rs.53,040/-. The total value of stored potatoes is Rs.1,60,680/-. The complainant was also to bear (suffer) expenses for the carriage and due to some damage to the potatoes. Rs.16,068/- (Apprx.10%) is assessed as expenses on account of carriage/loss of stock. Therefore, net loss of the complainant is assessed as Rs.1,44,612/-. The complainant was to pay rent charges, which is admittedly Rs.85/- per bag. Opposite party in the plaint, (Ex.OP1/1) has also revealed rent @ Rs.85/- per bag. The total charges for 882 bags is calculated as Rs.74,970/-. The complainant has alleged that he has paid Rs.40,000/- as part of advance rent, receipt, (Ex.C4 to Ex.C6) acknowledges the payment of amount in advance but the amount is not mentioned in clear figures. Counsel for opposite parties is also not able to explain the amount mentioned in this receipt. Moreover opposite parties have not produced any document to rebut this payment. No other record has been produced by opposite parties to prove that the amount received was not Rs.40,000/-. Therefore, we accept the version of the complainant that he has paid Rs.40,000/- in advance as part of rent. Therefore, this amount is adjustable in the rent amount payable to opposite parties. So, a sum of Rs.34,970/- (Rs.74,970/- - Rs.40,000/-=Rs.34,970/-) is payable by the complainant on account of rent charges. This amount is adjustable from the amount payable to the complainant i.e. Rs.1,44,612/-. Therefore, net loss of the complainant is worked out as Rs.1,09,642/-. As a result of our above discussion, the complaint is partly accepted with Rs.10,000/- as cost and compensation against opposite party No.1. Opposite party No.2 is impleaded being manager, but opposite party No.1 is owner of firm in question. Therefore, only owner is liable for compensate the complainant. As such, complaint against opposite party No.2 is dismissed. The complainant is held entitled to above sum of Rs.1,09,642/- with interest @ 12% per annum. The interest is payable from the date of filing of complaint till realization. The compliance of this order be made within 45 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order. The complaint could not be decided within the statutory period due to heavy pendency of cases. Copy of order be sent to the parties concerned free of cost and file be consigned to the record. Announced:- 03-01-2017 (M.P Singh Pahwa) President (Jarnail Singh) Member
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