Consumer Forum member judged case involving own car, says Lulu Group

KOCHI: The issue over collection of parking fee from visitors by Lulu Mall took a new turn when Lulu Group alleged before the Kerala HIgh Court that the car for which parking fee was levied that resulted in a complaint before the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (CDRF) belongs to a judicial member of CDRF itself. The group has alleged that the CDRF member sat on judgment on an issue involving his own vehicle.
Justice Alexander Thomas of the Kerala High Court has now directed the registrar of the high court to obtain a report from the members of the CDRF after MA Nishad, director of Lulu International Shopping Mall Pvt Ltd, filed an affidavit stating that the car, KL-35 D 4546, that was issued a parking fee ticket at Lulu Mall belongs to CDRF member Sheen Jose. Levying of parking fee for visiting the mall was questioned before the CDRF in a complaint filed by Rema George of Manganam near Puthuppally in Kottayam. On February 16, CDRF had ordered Lulu Group to deposit parking fee collected from visitors before it.
The affidavit filed by Lulu Group through advocate TU Ziyad stated, “It is very evident that member Sheen Jose has passed the order with ulterior motives. He has been deciding his own cause. He has along with other members of the Forum have fraudulently exercised the power vested by the Consumer Protection Act. It has now become necessary to place this additional affidavit along with the required documents on record.”
Along with the affidavit, the mall operator has produced a copy of registration details of the vehicle in the name Sheen Jose that allegedly bears the number cited in the complaint presented before the CDRF. Copy of a photograph obtained from Facebook that shows Sheen Jose standing beside a car bearing the same registration number was also produced before the court.