Davinder Singh

Chandigarh

Adistrict consumer redressal forum here has taken Reliance Clothing India for charging Rs 8 for a paper bag along with goods.The forum has also ordered the company on December 30, 2019 to pay compensation of Rs 25, 000 to complainantfor the inconvenience caused.Singh, a resident of Viman Nagar, in his complaint, stated to have bought two pair of shoes on April 24, 2019, from the store. The shop, located in Phoenix Market City in Viman Nagar, charged him Rs 8 for the paper bag.He, in his complaint to the redressal forum, said that according to theconsumer council, the customer is not bound to pay for the bag. When he demanded a refund, the store refused to return the money.The complainant again approached the store on May 17, 2019, citing that no price was printed on the bag for which the charges were imposed. Also, the name of the company was advertised on the bag.Singh said that the treatment meted to him as a customer was not on a par with the basic services which should have been provided by the company and demanded compensation for the same. A notice was sent to the company accordingly, to which the company issued an apology on May 18, 2019.The complainant then demanded a compensation of Rs 1lakh, along with the refund of Rs 8 for the bag through the consumer redressal forum.The forum found all the allegations to be true and took cognisance, stating that the complainant is eligible for compensation. No representation from Reliance appeared in the forum during the entire course of the case, which also favoured the judgment towards Singh.The forum decided in favour of Singh on the grounds of evidence that he submitted, which included the receipt of the bill where the bag was charged. It also found that the company charged an additional Rs 1.22 in form of taxes.Singh also produced the bag as proof while presenting the case.Citing the Chandigarh consumer council judgment in the case Bata India Limited vs Dinesh Prasad Raturi, issued on July 22, 2019, which stated that no charges to be imposed on customers for paper bags and will be handed over for free, the forum ruled in his favour.The forum said that though an apology through email was produced, it alone was not enough. The company had resorted to gross violation of the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act and indulged in unethical business practice.The court said the apology also proves the company is guilty and should compensate for the mental and physical harassment caused to the customer.Concluding that Singh was eligible for the compensation and refund, the forum ordered the company to refund the charged amount for the bag along with an interest of 9 per cent from April 25, 2019.Also, the court ordered a compensation to be paid to him within 30 days. It warned the company to not resort to such practices again and file an affidavit in this regard.