The Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd., the Stores Manager of Karnataka State Arts and Crafts Emporium and Cauvery (a unit of KSACE) in Bangalore, have been found guilty of unfair trade practice and deficient service by the III Additional Bangalore Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum which has ordered them to pay up Rs 10,000 as punitive damages to this Forum and to discontinue such unfair trade practice, affecting several consumers.
S Prakash of Kollur, Udupi district had bought a sealed plastic container of 5 gms of sandalwood oil manufactured by Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd under their brand name “From the House of Mysore Sandal Soap” with its price fixed at Rs 884 from Cauvery on M G Road.
But the product was sold to him for Rs 994.50 (inclusive of VAT). Since it was a packaged commodity, it should not have been sold for a price more than the MRP.
On his next visit Prakash bought the same sealed container of 5 gms of sandalwood oil manufactured by KS&DL from another trader, namely KS&DL Employees Credit Cooperative Society Ltd., Bangalore.
It was also the one packed and sealed by KS&DL disclosing their brand name “Mysore Sandal Oil” and emblem. The MRP shown therein was Rs 650 and he paid Rs 650 for it.
He realised that the KSHDC and Cauvery had indulged in an unfair trade practice causing him loss. On June 6, 2007, he again bought the same 5 gms of sandalwood oil from KS&DL for Rs 650 and to crosscheck bought another packet of the same from Cauvery where he had to pay Rs 995! He realised he was being overpaid.
He then complained to the III Additional Consumer Forum where the opposite parties said that the complaint was not maintainable under the law and was misconceived.
Since they are a Government body they cannot be doubted.
But the Forum President Sri N Srivathsa Kedilaya ruled that by so selling the opposite parties have not only played fraud on several consumers like this one, but they have also tampered with the MRP and brought disrepute to KS&DL. He said “The Government of Karnataka should swing into action and set right the issue.” He ordered them to pay up Rs 468 to the complainant along with Rs 5000 as costs. The Rs 10,000 to be paid by them to this Forum would be credited to the Consumer Welfare Fund.
Vanishing site
This Forum also found the President, Karnataka Rajya Sarkari “D” Group Naukarara Kendra Sangha guilty of deficient service and has ordered it to refund Rs 53,670 to G Ravi Kumar. He had paid up this money for a site to this Sangha, which he never got from them.
The Sangha has also been ordered to pay him Rs 1 lakh as compensation for depriving him of his site.
