Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram district, has directed a supermarket to pay compensation of Rs 8,000 for selling a popular soap for more than the maximum retail price to a resident, two years ago.
In the petition, M. Sathyan of Pallavaram submitted that he had purchased a bar of Chandrika soap from the Ayyanar Super Market. The outlet sold the soaps under an offer, "Buy 3 get 1 free" for a price of Rs 120. However, the shop collected Rs 169, which was above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
Sathyan alleged that the manufacturer was hand in glove with the shopkeepers by offering an attractive price outside the packet and the original price was mentioned in small letters on the wrapper.
He said the soap manufacturing company, 'The Wipro Consumer Care' Bengaluru and Shri Ayyanar Super Market in Pallavaram had cheated him by overcharging. He sought compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the company and the supermarket.
Denying the allegations, Wipro Consumer Care said that the company was not responsible for selling its product at more than the MRP mentioned on it. The supermarket accepted the mistake of affixing stickers of reduced prices of the soap sold. The issue was rectified within a few days, after Sathyan sent a legal notice to the shop.
The forum headed by president J Justin David said that Shri Ayyanar Super Market had committed the mistake while affixing the stickers, which amounts to negligence and deficiency of service. The forum directed the supermarket to pay the petitioner a compensation of Rs 8049 for collecting an excess amount and for causing mental agony.
