Aware consumer to get Rs 5000 for malpractice done by Big Bazar
Jasbir Kapoor/ royalpatiala.in/ Patiala
An aware consumer Ashok Bansal resident of Sheranwala Gate, Patiala highlighted the overcharging done by retail giant Big Bazar store situated at Omaxe Mall Patiala. He filed a complained about the malpractices done by the retail giant with District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Patiala U/S 12 to 14 of the Consumer Protection Act 1986.
After going through the complaint filed in December last year with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Patiala, Members BS Dhaliwal and Inderjeet kaur has directed Big Bazaar, to pay Rs 15,000 for charging Rs 7 extra on bananas purchased by a customer from their store.
The retail giant Big Bazar had charged the consumer Ashok Bansal Rs 38.06 for bananas weighing 0.885 gm, the unit price of which was Rs 38, instead of Rs 30.98 vide bill no. 7 memo no. 0036133, Tr 16055, St 3684 dated 01/12/2018
The complainant had stated that he had identified the difference between chargeable and levied amounts and contacted the store manager but the later refused to refund the money.
The forum said the departmental store indulged in ‘clear unfair trade practice’. It said this amounts to deficiency in service due to which, the complainant had to suffer financially, mentally and physically and which he is entitled to compensation.
While the retail chain contested that overcharging was not intentional and sought dismissal of the complaint, the consumer forum said the contention is not a genuine excuse as despite efforts for refund, the complainant did not get it.
It added that unfair trade practice is a grave and serious matter affecting a large number of consumers and, “therefore, the compensation has to be awarded in proportion to its gravity to make the opposite party realise that they are bound to pay for the malpractices adopted by them.”
The court has directed Big Bazar to refund over charged amount, pay Rs 5,000 as compensation for causing harassment and mental torture, including litigation expenses to the complainant. The forum also directed Big Bazar to pay Rs 10,000 as punitive measure to the Army Welfare Fund Battle casualities.
