Shopkeeper to refund money for faulty 'lehanga-choli'

CHANDIGARH: For not refunding money of a faulty lehanga-choli, a Sector-18 resident dragged a Shastri market shopkeeper to the consumer court. UT district consumer disputes redressal forum directed the shopkeeper to refund money to the complainant along with compensation.
Complainant Rashmi Sharma of Sector 18 had alleged that on November 23, 2010, she had purchased two lehanga-cholies from Rimpy Garments of Shastri Market, Sector 22, for Rs 6,450 each and in this way, she had made paid a total of Rs 12,900.Her allegation was that one lehanga-choli was defective as there were some cuts and holes in it and the material patched on the lehanga-choli was not fixed properly. She had approached the respondent and had requested a replacement but the respondent had asked her to wait for fresh stock. Complainant further alleged that despite her repeated requests and visits, the respondent refused to replace the lehanga-choli and also did not refund the money.
Consumer forum issued notice to the respondent but the respondent did not reply.
Consumer forum in its order had stated that the complainant had produced on record a photocopy of the visiting card and a receipt of Rs 12,900. Therefore, the complainant was entitled for a sum of Rs 6,450 being the price of one defective lehanga-choli, forum stated.
Forum further stated that despite notice to the respondent, he did not care to contest the case and as such it was concluded without any hesitation that either the respondent admitted the claim of the complainant or had nothing to say in the matter. Moreover, the evidence led by the complainant had also gone un-rebutted and uncontroverted, according to forum.
''As a result of the above discussion, this complaint is accepted ex-parte and the respondent is directed to refund Rs 6,450 being the price of one defective lehanga-choli to the complainant along with Rs 5,000 as compensation,'' forum order read.