DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, BATHINDA

CC.No.156 of 01-02-2016

Decided on 08-07-2016

Harmeet Singh aged about 38 years S/o Jagraj Singh R/o Village Bandi, District Bathinda.

........Complainant

Versus

1.PACL India Limited, S.C.F No.12 Near Bibiwala Chowk, Bharat Nagar, Bathinda, through its Manager/Authorized Signatory.

2.PACL India Ltd. Corporate Office, 7^th Floor, Gopal Das Bhawan, 28, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi-110001, through its Managing Director/Authorized Person/Director.

.......Opposite parties

Complaint under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986

QUORUM

Smt.Sukhwinder Kaur, Member.

Sh.Jarnail Singh, Member.

Present:-

For complainant: Sh.Bharat Bhushan, Advocate.

Opposite parties: Ex-parte.

ORDER

Jarnail Singh, Member

1. The complainant Harmeet Singh (here-in-after referred to as complainant) has filed complaint U/s 12 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against opposite parties PACL India Limited and Other (here-in-after referred to as opposite parties).

2. Briefly stated, the case of the complainant is that in the month of March 2010, the agent/adviser of opposite parties approached him to sell Installment Payment Plan and conveyed him that as per the said policy, he is required to deposit 11 half yearly installments of Rs.11,500/- each with opposite parties and further conveyed him that after completion of 5 year 6 months, opposite parties either would return him the abovesaid amount alongwith interest i.e. they would return a total sum of Rs.1,81,800/- or they would allot/register a plot measuring 2500 sq. yards in his name.

3. It is alleged that on assurance given by opposite parties, the complainant agreed to purchase the abovesaid policy. The agent of opposite parties obtained his signatures on blank printed forms and some blank papers. He paid Rs.11,500/- to the agent of opposite parties, they issued him policy bearing registration No.U018180085 commencing from 22.3.2010 but no terms and conditions were ever supplied to him. The said scheme was to be matured on 22.9.2015. He deposited 2 installments of Rs.11,500/- each with opposite parties.

4. It is further alleged that the complainant went to deposit 3rd installment of Rs.11,500/- with opposite party No.1, its officials refused to accept the said installment and conveyed him that he is not required to deposit more installment. After completion of 5 years 6 months i.e. in the month of December 2015, the complainant approached opposite party No.1 and requested its officials to make the payment of Rs.23,000/- alongwith interest @ 18% per annum, they took the original policy document from him and obtained his signatures on some blank printed forms and blank papers and issued him acknowledgment dated 24.12.2015 and assured him that the maturity amount against the abovesaid scheme shall be made to him shortly, but till date nothing has been paid.

   On this backdrop of facts, the complainant has alleged deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on the part of opposite parties and has prayed for directions to them for payment of Rs.23,000/- alongwith interest @18% per annum and also claimed compensation to the tune of Rs.20,000/- and litigation expenses to the tune of Rs.5500/-. Hence, this complaint.

5. Upon notice, none appeared on behalf of opposite parties. As such, ex-parte proceedings were taken against them.

6. Complainant was afforded opportunities to produce evidence.

7. In support of his claim, the complainant has tendered into evidence his own affidavit dated 28.1.2016, (Ex.C1); photocopy of acknowledgment, (Ex.C2); photocopy of ledger account, (Ex.C3) and photocopy of policy, (Ex.C4).

8. We have heard learned counsel for complainant and gone through the file carefully.

9. Learned counsel for complainant has reiterated his averments as taken in the complaint and detailed above.

10. We have given careful consideration to these submissions.

11. From the contents of the complaint and relief claimed by the complainant, it is apparent that the complainant has claimed investor of opposite parties. Civil Appeal Nos.13301, 13319, 13394 and 13304 of 2015 titled as Subrata Bhattacharya Vs. Securities & Exchange Board of India relates to some investors who invested their money with PACL Limited (opposite party). Hon'ble Apex Court has passed the order vide which SEBI shall constitute committee for disposing of land purchased by company so that the sale proceedings can be paid to investors, who have invested the amount in the company for purchase of land. It is further ordered that the decision with regard to sale of property of company by committee is not to be interfered by any court.

12. The Paras No.3, 7, 12 and 13 of the order passed in the abovesaid Civil Appeal are relevant and extracted as under:-

    “3) The SEBI shall constitute a Committee for disposing of the land purchased by the Company so that the sale proceeds can be paid to the investors, who have invested their funds in the Company for purchase of the land. Hon'ble Mr. Justice R.M. Lodha, the former Chief Justice of India, would be the Chairman of the said Committee. It would be open to the Hon'ble Chairman of the Committee to appoint such experts or other persons, as he might think it necessary, in consultation with the SEBI, .so as to enable the Committee to sell the land and pay to the investors in a manner that might be decided by the said Committee.

    7) The methodology with regard to recovery of amount by sale of the land and disbursement of the amount to the investors shall be overseen by the Members of the Committee.

    12) The amount, which is lying in the bank accounts of the Company and other cash belonging to the Company shall be released in favour of SEBI so that it can be used either for disbursement in favour of the investors or for incurring necessary expenditure. If any amount has been deposited by the Company or by its Directors or by any other person on behalf of the Company in any Court, the same shall be released in favour of the SEBI, who shall have a separate account so as to deal with the same. The Committee shall also decide as to whether the staff of the Company should be continued or relieved.

    13) The decision with regard to sale of property of the company by the Committee shall not be inferred with by any Court.”

13. The Hon'ble Committee under the orders of the Hon'ble Apex Court has already seized of the matter in question. In this complaint, it is not disputed that the complainant namely Harmeet Singh is one of the investor, who made investment with opposite parties i.e. PACL Limited.

14. In view of aforesaid directions of Hon'ble Apex Court, we are of the opinion that this Forum cannot pass an executable order against opposite parties. Therefore, this complaint is disposed off accordingly. However, the complainant is at liberty to approach the Hon'ble Committee to seek his claim.

15. The complaint could not be decided within the statutory period due to heavy pendency of cases.

16. Copy of order be sent to the parties concerned free of cost and file be consigned to the record.

    Announced:-

    08-07-2016 (Sukhwinder Kaur)

    Member

     

     

    (Jarnail Singh)

    Member