DATE OF FILING : 28/09/16

IN THE CONSUMER DISPUTES  REDRESSAL FORUM, IDUKKI

Dated this the 30th day of October 2018

Present :

SRI. S. GOPAKUMAR PRESIDENT

           SRI. BENNY. K. MEMBER

CC NO. 273/2016

Between

Complainant       : Lucy , W/o Sebastian, 

                                                      Kunnathel House, Karinkunnam P.O., 

                                                      Thodupuzha Taluk, 

                                                      Represented by Steelteck Industries,

                                                      Karinkunnathu.

(By Adv: Jose George)

And

Opposite Party                                          :  The Managing Director,

                                                    Paxal Tubes Corporation,

                                                    Kala Pathar Building, 2nd Floor, 185/187,

                                                   Dr.M.G.Mahindra Marge, Mumbai – 400 004.

        (By Adv: Prabin Benny C and Adv: Binumol)

 

O R D E R

SRI. S. GOPAKUMAR (PRESIDENT)

 

The case  of the complainant is that,  

 

Complainant is conducting a firm in the name and style as Steeltech Industries.  The main business of this firm is produce steel furniture, gates and in engaging steel rail works.  Complainant transferred an amount of Rs.3,95,212/- to the opposite  party company for purchasing the steel pipes through her bank on 03/10/15 and 08/10/15 and through one Sooraj, Lakshmi Traders, Ernakulam.  Even though the opposite party received all this amount then failed to provide the raw materials to the complainant.  Against this the complainant filed this petition alleging deficiency in service against the opposite party.  In this complaint opposite party filed detailed reply version denying all the allegation in the complaint along with a separate petition for challenging maintainability of the complaint itself.  This petition was heard in detail.

 

 

                                                                                        (Cont....2)

 

-2-

 

The main allegation levelled against the complainant by the opposite party is that, the complainant  is  a business firm, she  purchased raw materials

from the another firm and converting the raw materials to finished product and selling this product to the public for earning profit.  The complainant purchased steel pipes from the opposite party and after making finished goods with this raw materials selling the finished goods.  So the materials purchased by the complainant from the opposite party is only for selling and not for using and for earning profit.  Hence the complainant cannot comes under the purview of a consumer as envisaged in Sec 2(d) of the Consumer Protection Act.  More over the consumer law is only applicable to the consumer or end user only.

 

We have heard the learned counsel of both the parties.  On going through the contention in the maintainability petition as well as the complaint this Forum found that the complainant is conducting as steel industry in the name  and style Steeltech industries doing work with the steel, like gate rails etc.

 

In this matter, the complainant placed order to the opposite party for purchasing raw materials for his steel industry.  It is an admitted fact that with the raw materials complainant converting it to finished product and selling it to the public.  Here the materials purchasing from the opposite party company is only for re-selling and not for self using.  At this juncture it is very pertinent to note that the sec 2(d) of the consumer protection act says that “consumer means a person who buy any goods for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid or partly promised or under any system of deferred  payment and including any user of such goods other than the person who buys such goods for consideration paid or promised or partly paid or partly  promised or under any systems of deferred payment when such use is made with the approval of such person but does not include a person who obtains such goods for re-sale or for any commercial purpose”.  In the present matter it is specifically stated that the purchase of the raw materials from opposite party company is only for re-sale and not for any personal use. On the basis of above discussion   Forum  is  of   a  considered  view   that   the   complainant   is   not

 

                                                                                        (Cont....3)

-3-

 

considered as a consumer as per section 2 (d) of the act, and the complaint  cannot maintainable.  Hence maintainability petition allowed and complaint dismissed.

 

Pronounced in the Open Forum on this the 30th day of October, 2018.

 

                                                                          Sd/-

                                                                SRI. S. GOPAKUMAR (PRESIDENT)

                                                                                Sd/-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

             SRI. BENNY. K.  (MEMBER)

 

 

APPENDIX

 

Nil

 

                      Forwarded by Order,

 

 

                             SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT