Dharwad: The District Consumer Grievances Redressal Commission has rapped a private electronic vehicle manufacturing company for deficiency in service and has imposed a hefty penalty.
Megha Deshpande, a resident of Keshwapur, Hubballi, paid Rs 1,62,010 for an Ola electric scooter. Shockingly, on the next day of purchase, some marks appeared on the scooter.
Ola Electric was notified of the issue, and they promised to fix it, but no action was taken.
Furthermore, after running just 20-30 kilometers, the scooter would suddenly stop in the middle of the road, and oil leakage was also observed. When the complainant reported these issues to Ola Electric, they responded that there was no stock of parts for replacement.
Since June 2024, the vehicle has become unusable. Despite several requests to the company to repair the vehicle, no resolution was provided.
Considering this as a clear case of service deficiency under the Consumer Protection Act, the complainant approached the Dharwad District Consumer Commission on August 31, 2024, demanding action against Ola Electric.
After a thorough investigation, Commission Chairman Ishappa Bhute and member Vishalakshi Bolashetti concluded that the complainant had spent over Rs 1 lakh to purchase the scooter for daily use. However, within a few days of purchase, it faced severe problems. The commission observed that such issues occurring immediately after purchase are unacceptable.
Although complaints were lodged with Ola Electric, their service stations, and customer support, no steps were taken to resolve the scooter’s issues. The commission found that such negligence amounts to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.
Commission’s order
Thus, the commission ordered Ola Electric to refund the full price of the scooter along with 8% interest, and additionally directed the company to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for inconvenience, trouble, and mental harassment, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses.