Transport company to pay for deficient service

Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 24

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Aarti International Packers and Movers, Transport Nagar, to pay Rs 42,000 as compensation for damage caused to the household articles transported by them in a negligent manner.

Delivering the verdict, the President of Forum, GK Dhir, and its member Jyotsna Thatai also ordered the company to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation for mental harassment and agony and Rs 5,000 as litigation expenses to the aggrieved consumer.

The orders were passed with regard to a complaint moved by Manoj Kumar of Bhagalpur, Bihar.

The complainant submitted before the forum that earlier he was posted at Air Force Station, Barnala. Due to transfer, he hired service of the transport company for shifting the domestic articles from Barnala to Bihar.

Thirtyfive articles, including a two-wheeler, sofa, bed, TV, almirah, refrigerator and other articles were booked for transportation. He had purchased these articles with hard-earned money because he belongs to a middle-class family and was not earning too much.

However, when the articles were received at the station of destination, those were found damaged. Some of the articles such as refrigerator, TV were not in working condition and they became waste material.

Scratches on the body of these articles were there as shown in the photographs annexed with the complaint. Earlier, the transport company assured the complainant to pay the compensation amount but thereafter procrastinated the matter.

“It was proved that the kitchen fan and kitchen rack are missing. As for removal of the scratches on the other household articles, including the computer table, steel bed, boxes and sofa set, or for repair of washing machine or the motor cycle, the complainant is bound to spend something and as such, an amount of Rs.40,000 is allowed for this purpose,” added the forum.

Despite notice by the forum, the transport company did not turn up to contest the case.