Chennai: The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC), Chennai has directed an LPG agency in Coimbatore to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000 to a consumer for its failure to supply refill more than two months from the date of booking.
Upholding an order of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Coimbatore, a bench of presiding judicial member, A.K. Annamalai and member P. Bakiyavathi directed the agency to pay the amount in six weeks.
In the petition, R. Rangasamy of Neelambur, Coimbatore submitted that he obtained LPG cylinder connection from Golden Gas Service, an agent of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL).
Rangasamy booked for a refill of an LPG cylinder on May 21, 2010. It was not supplied to him for two and half months from the date of booking, he claimed.
He filed a petition before District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Coimbatore seeking a compensation of Rs 50,000 from BPCL and Golden Gas Service.
In its reply, BPCL said it is only a producer and has an agreement with Golden Gas Service and it was in no way connected with the distribution of cylinder directly.
Golden Gas Service said the booking for refill was done on May 21, 2010 and the refill was delivered on June 12, 2010. Hence, the company had not committed any deficiencys in service.
On December 15, 2011, the District Forum directed Golden Gas Service to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for causing mental agony and suffering and '1,000 as cost. The Forum also dismissed the complaint against BP CL. Golden Gas filed an appeal.
The SCDRC bench said the District Forum came to the proper conclusion regarding deficiency in service but the award of compensation of Rs 10,000 was high. Hence, it directed the agency to pay Rs 5,000 to him in six weeks.
