Immigration firm told to refund Rs 45,000 by Consumer Court

Chandigarh, October 27
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I slapped a fine of Rs 15,000 on an immigration firm, Canin Worldwide Consultants Private Limited, for its failure in providing work visa within six months to a resident of Nawanshahr.

The complainant, Sarbjit Singh, said he had applied for work permit for Canada on October 23, 2009 by paying Rs 53,500 to the opposite party, which had assured that if the work visa is not arranged within six months then Rs 45,000 would be refunded, as per the clause 7 of the contract agreement entered between them. The complainant further paid US$300 as per the agreement. The complainant alleged that thereafter he approached the opposite party a number of times but it put off the matter on one pretext or the other by giving false assurances.

No one appeared on behalf of the immigration firm.

The district forum comprising of president PD Goel and members, Rajinder Singh Gill and Madanjir Kaur Sahota, observed that the opposite party has failed to arrange the work visa within the stipulated period of six months. The opposite party also failed to provide the promised services, which amounts to deficiency in service and indulgence in unfair trade practice on part of the opposite party. Otherwise also, the allegations made in the complaint have gone un-rebutted, as nobody appeared on behalf of the opposite party to contest the case. The forum also directed the immigration firm to refund Rs 45,000 to the complainant, besides Rs 2,500 as the costs of litigation failing the opposite party would be liable to pay the entire amount to the complainant, along with the interest of 12 per cent per annum from the date of filing of the complaint till realisation.