Chennai marriage hall proprietor to pay Rs 13.55 lakh for service deficiency

Chennai: Stating that it is a case of extreme mental agony and sad plight of miserable parents of bride and bridegroom, who were unable to enter a marriage hall for reception and wedding , despite booking the facility, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chennai, has directed the hall proprietor to pay a compensation of Rs 13.55 lakh to the bridegroom’s family.

The matter pertains to M. Natesan of Peerkankaranai, who wanted to conduct his son’s wedding at ‘Hemraj Palace’, Chromepet. On 07-09-2008, he booked for reception and the wedding.

The reception was scheduled for February 1, 2009, evening and the wedding the next day. He paid an advance of Rs 10,000 to the manager Benjamin.

Subsequently, he paid up to Rs 93,700 on various dates. He was assured of the availability of the hall on the dates. Besides this, Natesan also spent Rs 3,43,500 for catering, video coverage and light music.

When he took his chef to the hall to cook food at 1 pm on the reception date, he was shocked to see that the hall had been occupied by another marriage troupe and cooking was on.

When he contacted the manager, the latter gave an evasive reply. Later, he contacted Niranjan, son of proprietor Hemarajasekar, who made him run around several places. Later, Niranjan threatened him he would beat him to death.

Dejected over this, he lodged a complaint with Chromepet police station. A case was registered. He could not find a marriage hall till midnight. The bride’s family attempted to leave the place along with the bride. However, after repeated requests, the bride’s family members were convinced for performing the wedding at the local Sri Karumariamman Temple.

Hemarajasekar denied that Benjamin was the manager of the hall. He has no power to book the hall. A caution board had been placed in the hall stating that payment and booking the facility should be done only with owners.All the bills were forged.