Mohali Consumer Court directs dealer to pay cost of Swift car

Mohali, September 22
Mohali-based car dealer Chittosho Motor has been directed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum to pay Rs 5,34,970, the cost price of a Maruti Swift VDI car, to a Phase-VII resident on account of damage to the vehicle while with the agency for periodic service.
Holding the car dealer responsible for negligence and carelessness, the forum, comprising BS Mehandiratta, president, and SS Dhaliwal and HK Ghuman, members, directed the car dealer to pay 9 per cent per annum as interest with effect from May 8 till the date of payment.
The complainant, Ranjai Sanadi, had stated that he purchased a new car from the agency on November 4 the previous year and left it with the agency for periodic service on May 8.
He added that the company informed him during service that there was a minor problem with the car, but when he visited the agency, he found his car badly damaged.
He further said the company failed to give him a satisfactory reply on enquiry and refused to replace the car, with repeated representations to the agency failing to elicit a response.
The agency denied damaging the car. It stated that it was ready to replace the damaged parts of the car free of cost.
After hearing the arguments, the forum observed that the depressed and pensive state of mind of a consumer could be imagined when the vehicle purchased by him with his hard-earned income was damaged due to the negligence and carelessness of those with whom were entrusted for repairs and who were supposed to keep it in safe custody.