City manufacturer told to pay Rs 2.75 lakh to hospital for selling defective machine

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 21

A city-based manufacturer has been directed to pay Rs 2.75 lakh to a Jalandhar-based hospital for selling a defective machine.

On the complaint of HS Badwal of Sunrise Brain and Spine Centre, Jalandhar, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here penalised M/s Genist Technocracy Private Limited, Chandigarh.

The complainant stated that he had purchased an autoclave rectangular horizontal LTR machine for Rs 2.50 lakh on May 5, 2017. Soon after its installation, there was door leakage issue in the machine. It was repaired twice by the manufacturer on May 12 and June 2. However, the problem persisted and endangered the lives of patients.

Badwal asked the manufacturer to either replace the machine with one of a better quality or refund Rs 2.50 lakh.

The machine encountered a similar problem for the third time, which was repaired on July 8. In its written reply, the manufacturer pleaded that as and when required by the complainant, his concerns were duly addressed by its engineers. The respondent added that the firm was still ready and willing to provide its services as the bio-medical machine was still under warranty period.

In its order, the forum observed that the services provided by the manufacturer were not up to the mark as the machine could not even last for a year. It thus directed M/s Genist Technocracy Private Limited to refund the cost of the machine (Rs 2.50 lakh) to the complainant, along with Rs 15,000 as compensation for deficiency in service and harassment caused to him.

The company has also been asked to pay Rs 10,000 to the complainant as litigation costs.