Punjab

Sangrur

CC/203/2020

Pankaj Jandia - Complainant(s)

Versus

The RTA - Opp.Party(s)

Sh. Kuldeep Kumar Jain

03 Oct 2022

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, SANGRUR .

 

                                                                        Complaint No. 203

 Instituted on:   27.07.2020

                                                                        Decided on:     03.10.2022

 

 

Pankaj Jandia aged about 50 years son of Dr. Kamal Krishan, resident of Jindia Niwas, Jind Road, Sangrur.                                                           

                                                         …. Complainant.     

                                                 Versus

The RTA, Sangrur near District Administration Complex, Sangrur.

             ….Opposite party 

 

For complainant         : Shri K.K. Jain, Adv.              

For  OP                     : Exparte.

 

Quorum                                           

JOT NARANJAN SINGH GILL: PRESIDENT

SARITA GARG                          : MEMBER

 

ORDER

JOT NARANJAN SINGH GILL, PRESIDENT.

1.             Complainant has approached this Forum/Commission alleging inter-alia that the complainant is the holder of driving license which was issued by the OP on 26.7.1996 and was valid upto 23.9.2019.  Further case of complainant is that the complainant applied for renewal of the driving license in question vide application number 3327186119 on 26.9.2019, but the OP treated the validation of the driving license as 25.7.2016 instead of 24.9.2019 and told the complainant that he has to again apply for the issuance of learners license instead of revalidation of the same. It is further averred in the complaint that the driving license of the complainant was issued on 26.7.1996 for driving the vehicles such as scooter/motorcycle/car/jeep etc. and due to non renewal of the driving license the complainant has been suffered in the hands of the OP.  The complainant earlier filed an application before the Permanent Lok Adalat on 9.10.2019 which was dismissed as withdrawn with liberty to file fresh one. Thus, alleging deficiency in service on the part of the OP, the complainant has prayed that OP be directed to revalidate the driving license of complainant and further to pay Rs.50,000/- on account of mental harassment and inconvenience and an amount of Rs.11,000/- as litigation expenses.

2.             Record shows that the OP was proceeded exparte on 09.05.2022.

3.             The learned counsel for the complainant produced Ex.C-1 affidavit and Ex.C-2 to Ex.C-5 copies of documents and closed evidence. On the other hand,  no evidence was produced by the OP as OP was proceeded against exparte.

4.             We have gone through the pleadings put in by the complainant along with their supporting documents.

5.             A bare perusal of the file reveals that the complainant has got issued the driving license in question on 26.07.1996 which was valid upto 23.09.2019  as is evident from the copy of driving license on record as Ex.C-2. Ex.C-3 is the copy of application number 3327186119 dated 26.09.2019 whereby he applied for renewal of the driving license in question wherein it has been clearly mentioned that the application for serving of driving license is accepted for processing and Ex.C-4 is the copy of petition submitted before the Permanent Lok Adalat and Ex.C-1 is the affidavit of the complainant, which supports the allegations leveled in the complaint. In the circumstances, we find it to be a fit case, where the deficiency in service on the part of the OP is writ large and by not renewing the driving license of the complainant the OP is itself deficient in service. When the driving license Ex.C-2 clearly shows that the driving license was valid upto 23.09.2019 as also this fact has been admitted by the OP in Ex.C-5 in the copy of written statement submitted by the OP before the Permanent Lok Adalat, but despite that the driving license was not renewed, as such, we find it to be a clear cut case of deficiency in service on the part of the OP.

6.             As a result of the above discussion, the present complaint is allowed and opposite party is directed to renew the driving license in question of the complainant without charging any penalty or late fee etc. Further, the opposite party is also directed to pay to the complainant an amount of Rs.3000/- as costs for mental tension, agony and harassment and an amount of Rs.2000/- as litigation expenses. Compliance of the order be made within the period of 60 days from the date of the receipt of the copy of this order.

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

8.             Copy of this order be supplied to the parties free of cost. File be consigned to the records after its due compliance. 

                                Pronounced.

 

                                October 3, 2022.