Orissa

Cuttak

CC/31/2022

Prakash Ku Singh - Complainant(s)

Versus

The Sector Manager/Asst. Manager worker, Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd., - Opp.Party(s)

M K Pati & associates

06 Jun 2023

ORDER

IN THE COURT OF THE DIST. CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION,CUTTACK.

C.C.No.31/2022

 

Prakash Kumar Singh,

S/O:Mahesh Chandra Singh,

At:Shelter  Square,P.O:Tulsipur,

P.S:Bidanasi,Dist:Cuttack-753008.                                     ... Complainant.

 

                                                                Vrs.

1.        The Sector Manager/Asst. Manager worker,

        Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.,

        Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.,

        And Saharayan Universal Multipurpose Society Ltd.,

        (Sahara India),Choudhury Bazar Sector 1352,

        P.O:Buxibazar,P.S:Cantonment Road,

        Dist:Cuttack,Pin-753001.

 

2.     The Regional Manager,Worker.                             

         Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.,

         Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.,

         And Saharayan Universal Multipurpose Society Ltd.,

         (Sahara India) Territorial Office,Plot No.50,

         Sahidnagar,P.O/P.S:Sahidnagar,

         Bhubaneswar,Dist:Khurda,Pin-751007.

 

3.     The Zonal Manager Worker,

                                          Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.,

          Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.,

          And Saharayan Universal Multipurpose Society Ltd.,

          (Sahara India),Plot No.50,

          Sahidnagar,P.O/P.S:Sahidnagar,

          Bhubaneswar,Dist:Khurda,Pin-751007.

 

4.       The Authorized Person,

           Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.,

          (Sahara India) Regd. Office,Sahara India Bhawan,

          1 Kapoorthala Complex,Aliganj,

           Lucknow,226420,Uttar Pradesh.

 

5.        The Authorized Person,

           Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Ltd.,

           (Sahara India) Regd. Office,Mangal Jyoti,

           101,227/2 AJC Bose Road,Kolkata,

           West Bengal-700020.

 

6.       The Authorized Person,

           Saharayan Universal Multipurpose Society Ltd.,

           (Sahara India),Regd. Office 195,Zone-1,

           In front of D.B.Mall,

           M.P Nagar,Bhopal,Madhyapradesh-462011.

 

                               7.        Managing Worker and Chairman of Sahara India Paribar,

               Sahara IndiaBhawan,1 Kapoorthala Complex,

           Aliganj,Lucknow-226024,Uttar Pradesh.                      ... Opp. Parties.

 

 

 

Present:               Sri Debasish Nayak,President.

                                                Sri Sibananda Mohanty,Member.

 

               Date of filing:     17.02.2022

Date of Order:    06.06.2023

 

For the complainant:            Mr. M.K.Pati,Adv. & Associates.

For the O.Ps.                 :          None.

 

Sri Sibananda Mohanty,Member.                                                      

          The case of the complainant in short is that he had invested money by purchasing six Fixed Deposit Certificates such as certificate bearing No.418000029635, having A/c No.13527202572 on payment of Rs.10,197/- on 18.05.2018, Certificate No. 418000029628, having A/c No.13527202564 on payment of Rs.1,03,799/- on 18.05.2018,Certificate No. 418000029868, having A/c No.13527204494 on payment of Rs.45,345/- on 25.08.2018,Certificate No. 418000029896, having A/c No.13527204542 on payment of Rs.23,949/- on 28.08.2019,Certificate No. 418000029735, having A/c No.13527203509 on payment of Rs.99,632/- on 06.07.2018& Certificate No. 418001089566, having A/c No.13527800178 on payment of Rs.37,499/- on 15.01.2019 respectively from the O.Ps in one of the schemes of the O.Ps namely “Sahara Worker SC”.   In total the complainant had invested a sum of Rs.3,20,421/-. The maturity period was 36 months for the said Fixed Deposit Certificates.  On maturity, he was entitled to receive an amount of Rs.4,26,479/- on the respective due date of the Fixed Deposit Certificates alongwith extra benefit of Rs.60,825/- and in total he was entitled to get Rs.4,87,304/- towards the maturity amount.    The complainant in Annexure-2 of the complaint petition has given detailed calculation of investment and maturity value as well as extra benefit of the certificates purchased by him. After the maturity date, the complainant in order to get his matured amount from the O.Ps had visited the office  of the O.Ps on many occasions  but the O.Ps did not release his maturity amount.  Hence, the complainant has filed the present case with a prayer for a direction to the O.Ps to pay his maturity amount in the certificates calculated as  Rs.4,87,304/- alongwith future interest @ 18% per annum as well as to pay him compensation of Rs.1,20,000/- towards his mental agony and harassment together with a sum of Rs.40,000/- towards his litigation expenses.

          The complainant has filed some documents, further affidavit in order to prove his case as well as evidence on affidavit in support of his case.

2.       Having not contested this case, all the O.Ps have been set exparte vide order  dt.10.06.2022.

3.       The points for determination in this case are as follows:

i.          Whether the case of the complainant is maintainable?

ii.         Whether there was any deficiency in service on the part of the O.Ps ?

iii.        Whether the complainant is entitled to the reliefs as claimed by him ?

Point no.i.

The O.Ps are Co-operative Societies constituted under Multistate Co-operative Society Act,2002 and the complainant is a member of the O.Ps.  Hence, the question arose whether any dispute between the complainant and the O.Ps is maintainable before this Commission as there is provision in the said Multi State Co-operative Society Act,2002 for redressal of grievances of the complainant against the O.Ps.  In this regard the learned counsel for the complainant relied upon the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court relating to maintainability of his case reported in AIR 2004(SC) 448, in the case of the Secretary, Thirumurugan Cooperative Agricultural Credit Society Vrs. M.Lalitha (dead) through LRs and others, wherein The Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that even if there is arbitration clause in the Cooperative Societies Act, Consumer Commission has jurisdiction to entertain the complaint case as there is no provision in the said Co-operative Society Act ousting the jurisdiction of Consumer Commission.  He also relied upon another decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court reported in AIR 2021 SC,70 in the case of Imperia Structures Ltd. Vrs. Anil Patni and others, wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court has held that RERA Act does not debar for adjudication of dispute by the Consumer Commission for redressal of grievances of the complainant relating to the Real Estate matter.  Hence the Consumer Commission has jurisdiction to entertain the dispute relating to the Real Estate matter.  The complainant also relied upon another decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court reported in (2022)6 SCC,496 in the case of Voda Phone, Idea Cellular Ltd. Vrs. Ajay Kumar Agarwal, wherein it has been held by the Hon’ble Supreme Court that even if there is provision U/S-7B of the Indian Telegraph Act,1885, the aggrieved person can approach the Consumer Commission as the jurisdiction of the Consumer Commission is not ousted U/S-7B of the Indian Telegraph Act. 

At this juncture, it is relevant to go through the Sec-100 of the C.P.Act,2019.  In Sec-100 of the C.P.Act,2019 in clear and unambiguous terms it is stated that the provisions of the Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other Law for the time being in force.

In view of the Sec-100 of the C.P.Act,2019 as well as the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, it is held that the case of the complainant is maintainable before this Commission.

 

Point No.ii.

The averments as made by the complainant in his complaint petition gains ample corroboration from the documentary evidence filed by him.

Admittedly, the complainant had purchased six number of Fixed Deposit Certificates on payment of Rs.3,20,421/- on different dates as mentioned in Annexure-2 of the complaint petition in one of the schemes of the O.Ps namely “ Sahara Worker SC”.  The contention of the complainant is supported with xerox copy of Fixed Deposit certificates filed by him.

It is not disputed that the complainant had purchased six Fixed Deposit Certificates from the O.Ps on payment of Rs.3,20,421/-.  The maturity date of the said certificates/bonds were clearly mentioned in the said certificates, which was due after 36 months of purchasing the certificates.     The O.Ps had not given the complainant the matured amount after the maturity period.  The complainant had approached the O.Ps many times to get his maturity amount but they did not give the matured amount of his certificates, which amounts to deficiency of service by the O.Ps.  In this context, learned counsel for the complainant has relied upon a decision of Hon’ble National Commission reported in 2001(3) CPR, 194(NC) in the case of Smt. Kalawati & others Vrs. M/s. United Vaish Co-operative Thirft & Credit Society Ltd., wherein the Hon’ble National Commission has held that non-refund of fixed deposit after maturity comes under the deficiency in service.  This decision is applicable in the present case.  The complainant had invested money with the O.Ps for earning interest.  The complainant would have earned interest if he would have invested his money in any other private sector or public sector undertaking.  But in the present case the O.Ps did not give the matured amount alongwith extra benefits by which  the complainant was deprived of getting his principal amount as well as interest component.   Hence, the O.Ps have committed deficiency in service as well as had adopted unfair trade practice by not releasing the complainant’s matured amount after its maturity period alongwith extra benefit.  This issue is answered in favour of the complainant. 

Point no. iii.

From the discussions as made above, the case of the complainant is definitely maintainable and the complainant is entitled to the maturity amount in respect of the Fixed Deposit Certificates as claimed by him.  The complainant has filed calculation sheet vide Annexure-2, which is found to be correct.As such, the complainant was entitled to get a sum of Rs.4,26,479/- towards the maturity amount alongwith a sum of Rs.60,825/- towards the extra benefit and in total, the complainant was entitled to get a sum of Rs.4,87,304/- on the date of the maturity of the certificates.      Hence, it is so ordered;

                                              ORDER

The case is allowed exparte against the O.Ps ,who are found to be jointly and severally liable here in this case.  Thus, the O.Ps are directed to pay the total matured amount of Rs.4,87,304/- of six nos. of certificates issued by them under the “Sahara Worker SC” scheme to the complainant alongwith interest thereon @ 12% per annum from the respective date of maturity as mentioned on each of the certificates till the final payment is made.  The O.Ps are further directed to pay a sum of Rs.1,20,000/- towards the compensation for mental agony and harassment as well as a sum of Rs.20,000/- towards the litigation expenses to the complainant.  This order is to be carried out within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

Order pronounced in the open court on the 6^th day of June,2023 under the seal and signature of this Commission.                                                                                                                                                                          

                          Sri Sibananda Mohanty

                                                                                                                             Member.

 

 

                                                                                                                   Sri Debasish Nayak

                                                                                                                              President.