Consumer court slaps fine on car firm

Kochi: Ernakulam district consumer disputes redressal commission ordered payment of Rs 2.72 lakh as refund and Rs 55,000 as compensation and court costs to a complainant in a case where a car could not be used due to continuous breakdown since purchase.
Order was issued on a complaint by Amanulla K H of Ernakulam against vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors and Popular Mega Motors, a service centre.The complainant, who is a taxi driver, purchased Tata Magic Iris vehicle from the opposite party on loan from the bank. The car broke down within a month. This breakdown recurred several times and the complainant was forced to hire other vehicles for work. The consumer approached court seeking compensation for the loss suffered by him due to manufacturing defect of the vehicle.
The complaint, filed under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act 1986, said the complainant earned his livelihood as a taxi driver for the past 10 years. He purchased a new vehicle from the car service centre for Rs 2,72,696 with the first opposite party being the manufacturer.
Opposite parties said the complainant has not proved what is the manufacturing defect of the vehicle. It said the complaint is an abuse of process, vague, baseless, and made with mala fide intention.
The commission found that there was significant service deficiency and unfair trade practice and asked opposite parties to refund Rs 2,72,696 towards cost of vehicle, Rs 40,000 as compensation for mental agony and for deficiency in service and Rs 15,000 towards cost of court proceedings.