Orissa

Cuttak

CC/271/2022

Chinmayee Dash - Complainant(s)

Versus

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

M K Pati & associates

04 May 2024

ORDER

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

C.C.No.271/2022

 

Smt. Chinmayee Dash,

W/o: Shri Sarat Chandra Satpathy,

At:Nigam Nibasa,Beleswar New Colony,

Near Railway Level Crossing,

P.O:Nayabazar,Cuttack Town,

Dist:Cuttack-753004.                                                 ... 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.     Managing Worker and Chairman of Sahara India Paribar,

              Sahara India Bhawan,1 Kapoorthala Complex,

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

 

 

Present:           Sri Debasish Nayak,President.

                                    Sri Sibananda Mohanty,Member.

 

               Date of filing:     31.12.2022

Date of Order:     04.05.2024

 

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 she had invested money in two deposit schemes of O.Ps, such as (1) deposited  Rs.2,990/- on 29.06.2018 in one of the fixed deposit  scheme of the O.Ps namely “Unique MIS” having A/c No.13527404157 which matured on 29.6.2021 and also opened A/c No.135237076970 on 7.12.2011 in a monthly deposit scheme under “Sahara S.Bhavishya” for 180 months  which would  mature on 7.12.2026 but it can be withdrawn prematurely after gen years.  On maturity, she was entitled to get a sum of Rs. 2990/-with interest of Rs.900/- besides bonus amount of Rs.252/- in toto Rs.4,142/- in the A/c bearing No. 13527404157 and an amount of Rs.2,47,000/- prematurely after ten years in the A/c bearing No. 13523707697.  After the maturity date of first A/c and after 10 years in case of 2^nd A/c, the complainant in order to get her amount from the O.Ps had visited the office  of the O.Ps on many occasions  but the O.Ps did not release her the entitled  amount.  Hence, the complainant has filed the present case with a prayer for a direction to the O.Ps to pay her entitlement dues towards her certificates calculated as Rs. 2,51,142/- alongwith 18% interest as well as Rs.60,000/- towards compensation for the financial loss, mental agony and harassment and Rs.20,000/- towards the cost of litigation. 

          The complainant has filed some documents in order to prove her case as well as evidence affidavit as well as additional affidavit in support of her case.

2.       The O.Ps did not appear.  Hence, they were set exparte vide order dt.28.3.2023.

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  and if they had practised any unfair trade?

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

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 the present 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 her complaint petition gains ample corroboration from the xerox copies of fixed deposit certificate in respect of “Unique MIS” scheme and Member Ledger statement in respect of “Sahara S.Bhabishya” monthly scheme as filed by her.

Admittedly, the complainant had invested money in one of the Fixed Deposit scheme of the O.Ps namely “Unique MIS” by depositing Rs.2990/- on 29.06.2018   The maturity period was 36 months for the said deposit scheme i.e. 29.6.2021.   The complainant has also invested money on 07.12.2011 in a monthly deposit scheme of O.Ps namely  “Sahara S.Bhavishya” by depositing a sum of Rs.1300/- per month.  The maturity date of the said scheme i.e 07.12.2026 but which can be withdrawn prematurely after ten years.  The complainant wanted to withdraw that amount prematurely after ten years.  On maturity, she was entitled to receive an amount of Rs. 2990/- besides interest component of Rs.900/- and bonus amount of Rs.252/- in toto Rs.4142/- in the fixed deposit scheme having A/c No. 13527404157.  The complainant is also entitled to get Rs.1,19,600/- towards the principal amount as well as interest component of Rs.1,27,400/- calculated till 7.12.2020 in the monthly deposit scheme having A/c No. 13523707697 and in total she was entitled to get Rs.2,51,142/-.  The maturity date, maturity amount as well as extra benefit amount of the fixed deposit certificate/bond are clearly mentioned in the said deposit certificate.  In case of monthly scheme, the complainant has filed member Ledger statement as well as affidavit stating therein the interest component, which remained uncontroverted.  The O.Ps had not given the complainant her entitlement amount, which were due.  The complainant had approached the O.Ps many times to get her entitlement amount but the O.Ps did not respond, 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 she would have invested her money in any other private sector or public sector undertaking.  But in the present case the O.Ps did not give the matured amount by which  the complainant was deprived of getting her 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 in respect of first Fixed Deposit A/c, so also committed deficiency in service in not releasing the entitled amount in respect of 2^nd monthly scheme A/c.  This point 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 besides extra benefits in respect of the fixed deposit certificates as claimed by her so also she is entitled to get principal amount as well as interest component in respect of monthly scheme.  The complainant has filed calculation sheet, which found to be correct and from which it reveals that the complainant is entitled to get Rs.2,51,142/- in respect of two scheme of the O.Ps.    Hence, it is so ordered;

                                    ORDER

The case is allowed exparte against the O.Ps.  The O.Ps 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. 2,51,142/- alongwith 8% interest per annum to the complainant from the date of maturity in case of Fixed Deposit scheme having A/c no. 13527404157 and in respect of monthly scheme having A/c no. 135237076970 from 7.12.2020 till the amount is quantified.   The O.Ps are further directed to pay a sum of Rs.20,000/- to the complainant towards the compensation for mental agony and harassment as well as a sum of Rs.10,000/- towards the litigation expenses.  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 4^th day of May,2024 under the seal and signature of this Commission.                                                                                                                                   

Sri Sibananda Mohanty

                                                                                                            Member.

 

 

                                                                                                    Sri Debasish Nayak

                                                                                                            President.