Solar firm to refund Rs 11 lakh for leaving work incomplete

Ludhiana: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a solar power installation company to refund Rs 11 lakh to a consumer, Siraj Din Bali of Millerganj, for failing to install a solar plant at his house.Holding the firm guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practices, the commission also imposed a Rs 20,000 composite cost, giving the company 30 days to clear the payment from the date of receiving the order copy.Additionally, the commission directed the firm to pay the Rs 11 lakh refund with an interest rate of 8% per annum, calculated from the date the complaint was filed until the actual payment is made.The matter began in Feb 2023 when Bali approached the firm to install a 29 KWp on-grid solar power generating system at his residence. The total commercial proposal was fixed at Rs 13,63,000 (approximately Rs 14 lakh including GST at 13.08%).As per the agreement, Bali paid an advance of Rs 11 lakh in two installments through RTGS—Rs 5,00,000 via a cheque dated March 4, 2023, and Rs 6,00,000 via a cheque dated April 3, 2024, from a bank in Ludhiana. The remaining Rs 3,00,000 was to be cleared post-installation.Although the firm delivered some raw materials to Bali’s premises, weeks passed without any assembly or site visits by their team, leaving the project incomplete. Bali’s multiple personal requests and subsequent legal notice dated November 30, 2024, went completely unanswered by the firm. Consequently, Bali approached the consumer commission seeking a full refund, Rs 5,00,000 for mental agony, and Rs 35,000 for litigation expenses.Firm fails to appear before courtThe opposite party failed to appear before the commission despite being served a notice, leading the panel to proceed ex-parte.Upon evaluating the available evidence, the commission observed that the firm displayed dishonest intentions right from the inception of the formal agreement to gain wrongfully. The panel concluded that the firm’s conduct went beyond basic service deficiency, amounting to a clear adoption of unfair trade practices.