Ld. Advocate(s)
For Complainant .. Mokbul Rahaman
For OP/OPs .. Ex-Parte.
Date of Filing :17.10.2019
Date of Disposal: 04.03.2022
: FINAL ORDER dtd. 04.03.2022
An application has been filed by the complainant u/s 12 of the C.P. Act 1986 alleging deficiency in service against the OPs for non payment of the maturity amount of deposit under Q Shop Scheme being certificate No: 562006792903 amounting to Rs.34,844/ as on 29.09.2018/- along with up to date interest as prayed in the petition of the complaint.
The complainant further claimed Rs 20,000/- as compensation due to mental pain, agony and harassment etc and litigation cost of Rs. 10,000/.
The brief fact of the case of the complainant is that the complainant deposited a sum of Rs. 14,800/ with the O.P No:1, which is one of the branch of the O.Ps, under a ‘Sahara Q Shop Plan – H’ scheme, on 29.09.2012,being certificate No: 562006792903 for a period of 6 years which has a redemption value of Rs. 34,844/ as on the date of maturity i.e on 29.09.2018.
The Complainant made such investment under Sahara Q Shop deposit Scheme of the O.Ps for 06 years and the OPs Company duly issued one certificate as mentioned above. The date of the maturity of the said certificate was on 29.09.2018.
It is the contention of the complainant that after the expiry of the maturity date the complainant demanded for the said maturity amount to the OP No.1 and it is alleged by the complainant that OP no.1 on 20.03.2019 expressed inability to pay maturity amount to the complainant and thereafter, the complainant sent advocate notice to the OP No.1 on 13.08.2019. But even after that the OP No.1 did not pay the maturity benefit to the complainant in respect of the said certificate.
Finding no other alternative, the complainant is constrained to file this complaint before this District Forum (now District Commission) for proper redressal.
The complainant along with his complaint petition filed the following documents:-
- Copy of Certificate No. : 562006792903
2. Copy of Advocate letter dated 13.08.2019.
Notices were served to the OPs. It appears from the order no. 3 dated 06.02.2020 that notices were delivered upon all the O.Ps.
But despite receiving notices they did not turn up and therefore the case was proceeded ex-parte against them, as it is reflected from orders No:03 & 04 dated 06.02.2020 & 09.06.2020 respectively and subsequent orders.
It is relevant to mention here that the office of this Forum received a letter from the O.P No:1, letter dated 20.12.2019 which has come through post, in which the O.P No:1 stated that the account of the complainant was opened in his office but it has been transferred to Franchise Office, Bethuadahari branch for better service and as such he is not liable for such claim. He also denied the fact that the Complainant did visit his office and claimed the maturity amount. Let the letter be kept with the record.
During hearing, the complainant filed written affidavit-in-chief and submitted the original documents as mentioned above by making annexure in order to prove the case.
From the complaint petition, evidence adduced by the complainant, following points have been framed:-
1. Is the complainant a consumer?
2. Are the OPs deficient in providing service?
3. Is the complainant entitled to get any relief as per prayed for?
Decision with reasons
All the points have taken up together for the sake of brevity and avoidance of repetition of facts.
It is seen from the evidence of the complainant and other materials on record that the complainant invested a sum of Rs.14,800/ on 29.09.2012 under “Sahara Q shop deposit Scheme” with the OP No. 1 and the OP No. 1 accepted the said amount and the O.Ps Company issued one certificate being No:562006792903.Such deposit was made for 06 years only.
Therefore, in our view the complainant is a consumer under OPs as per definition given U/S 2(1) (d) of the C.P Act 1986 and the O.Ps were the service providers of the complainant as per definition of U/S 2(o) C.P Act 1986.
Now, in order to ascertain, whether the OPs were deficient or not we have to consider the evidence of the complaint once again.
It is evident from the evidence of the complaint that the complainant invested/deposited Rs.14800/- to the OP No. 1 and Ops Company issued certificate as noted above which transpires that the redemption amount of the deposit was Rs. 34,844/- and the maturity date was 29.09.2018. The OP No:1 did not pay back the maturity amount as aforesaid even after making demand and sending advocate letter. The O.P No. 2, 3 and 4 are the Regional Manager, Chief Manager and Managing Director of the same company. The O.P No:1 has sent a letter dated 20.12.2019 to the office of the Dist. Forum and admitted the fact that such deposit was made in his office but for better service to the complainant it was transferred to another branch of the O.Ps. Simply because of transfer of an account does not absolve his liability for making the maturity amount. The O.P No:1 could have sent the maturity claim to the Bethuadahari Branch, where the account was lying and maintaining. He did not extend any help to the Complainant and did nothing.
In our view, of all the OPs are deficient in service for non disbursing the maturity amount of Rs.34,844/- to the complainant. And the Complainant is entitled to get relief as prayed for but in part.
In order to ascertain the quantum of compensation and litigation cost we think that an amount of Rs. 10,000/-as compensation and Rs.3,000/- as cost of the proceeding are appropriate and just in order to mitigate the loss suffered by the complainant. Therefore, we award such amount as compensation and litigation cost.
The unchallenged testimony of the complainant proves his case.
All the points go in favour of the complainant.
It is to be mentioned here that the instant case was filed under provision of CP Act 1986 and the case was proceeded under the said Act.
Hence, it is
O R D E R E D,
That the Consumer Complaint, being No: CC/315/2019 is allowed ex-parte but in part. All the OPs are hereby jointly and severally directed to pay the maturity amount of Rs.34,844 /- to the complainant within 45 days from the date of this order.
In default such amount shall carry an interest @ 8% p.a. till realisation.
All the OPs are further jointly and severally directed to pay compensation of Rs.10,000/- and litigation of Rs.3,000/- to the complainant within the aforesaid period of 45 days.
In default the Complainant is at liberty to file an Execution Application for enforcement of the final order before this District Commission as per provisions of law.
Let a free copy be given to the parties concerned as per provision of C.P.R,2005.
