The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BWSSB told to return amount to consumer

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Thursday, Aug 27, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BWSSB told to return amount to consumer

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The First Additional Bangalore District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to return Rs. 5,000 to a consumer for not clearly mentioning why it took the amount from the consumer.

Stolen

The consumer, V.K. Jain, a resident of Peenya Industrial Estate, reported to the police that his water meter was stolen on March 8 this year.

He then filed an application to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s Assistant Executive Engineer, W-4 Sub Division, for a new meter.

However, he was made to deposit Rs. 5,000 as penalty for the theft of the water meter, apart from Rs. 850 for a new meter and Rs. 150 towards fixing charges.

Complaint

Mr. Jain filed a complaint before the forum and questioned the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s action in collecting the penalty. The members of the forum — H.M. Bajentri, C.V. Rajamma and Keshav Rao Patil — found that the receipt issued by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board mentioned Rs. 5,000 under the head “others”.

The members observed “… No proper particulars are furnished as to for what purpose Rs. 5,000 was charged”.

Particulars

Without disclosing the particulars, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board was not entitled to collect the amount.

Unfair

Terming this as “unfair trade practice”, the forum in its August 4 order directed the BWSSB to return Rs. 5,000 with six per cent interest.

The BWSSB officials did not appear before the forum.

MRP

In another judgment, the forum directed a shop to return to a customer the amount it charged in excess of the maximum retail price for a tube for his two-wheeler.

H.K. Honne Gowda of Sunkadkatte purchased a tube for his motorcycle from Elegant Tyres on Magadi Road on May 15.

The shop charged Rs. 270 despite Mr. Honne Gowda pointing out that the maximum retail price mentioned on the tube was Rs. 220. He filed a complaint with the forum.

The forum observed that collecting amount in excess of the maximum retail price was unfair trade practice and directed the shop to return Rs. 50 with 10 per cent interest.

The forum also asked the shop to pay Mr. Honne Gowda a cost of Rs. 500 within eight weeks.

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