Srinagar: District Consumer Protection Forum has asked a local LPG distributor to pay Rs 5000 to a local LPG agency as compensation to a complainant for long delay in supplying the cylinder.
The complainant— Peer Noor-ul-Haq—submitted that he, having the gas connection of the distributor of HP gas, was provided only three gas cylinders from January 2014 till March 2015 despite the fact that he was entitled to more. Peer said the act of distributor forced him to buy the LPG from black market at exorbitant rates and this act amounts to deficiency in service.
He had prayed for payment of damages to the tune of Rs. 90,000 from distributor.
The consumer forum had issued notice to the distributor who despite the expiry of statutory period did not appear nor chose to file written version and his right to the effect was closed on April 2015. Peer adduced his own evidence on affidavit in support of complaint and also produced one witness while the Distributor did not chose to contest the complaint.
“Heard and considered the submissions of the complainant, perused the complaint and consumer pass book as also evidence on file. Complainant has succeeded in proving his case and (distributor) not having chosen to contest the same, there appears no reason to discredit his case which remains un-rebutted,” Mohammad Ashraf Malik, president District Consumer Protection Forum, observed.
Accordingly, the District Consumer Protection Forum disposed of the complaint with the direction to the distributor to pay an amount of Rs 5000 to the complainant as compensation for causing pain, agony and harassment to Peer. “The (distributor) shall also pay Rs 2000 as litigation charges to the complainant. The entire awarded amount shall be paid by the (distributor) to the complainant with a period of one month, failing which, the same shall bear simple interest @ 6% P.a.”
