NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, NEW DELHI
AVM J. Rajendra, AVSM VSM (Retd.), Presiding Member
Kamla Devi and Anr. – Appellants
versus
M/s. Ambuja Cement Limited
and Ors. – Respondents
First Appeal No.861 of 2013
(Against the Order dated 27/09/2013 in Complaint No. 68/2011 of the State Commission Rajasthan)
Decided on 25.1.2024
Consumer Protection Act, 1986 – Section 19 [Consumer Protection Act, 2019 – Section 51] – Product/Commodity – Cement – Testing of – Proper procedure – Whether Appellant/Complainant established that the cement purchased by him from OPs for construction of his house was of poor quality – The reports on the said cement samples dated 23.12.2011 and 19.05.2011 produced by the Complainant indicate that ‘the cement has very low strength in comparison to strengths of standard grade 43 and/or grade 53 cement’. ‘Quality of the sand was found to be substandard and not suitable for RCC structures’. While it is not clear as to which sample was forwarded for testing, it is also not established as to what procedure was followed for sampling and testing as prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards. Evidently the Complainant has not followed the provisions for getting the samples analysed from authorised laboratory. In any case, no affidavit has been filed in support of the report. Thus, the report in question is not in adherence with the procedure under Section 13(1)(c) of the Act – Thus, Appeal is dismissed. [Paras 10 to 17].
Result: Appeal dismissed.
ORDER
The present First Appeal has been filed under Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (“the Act”) against the Order dated 27.09.2013 passed by the learned State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Rajasthan, Jaipur (“the State Commission”), in Consumer Complaint No. 68 of 2011, wherein the Complaint filed by the Complainants (Appellants herein) was dismissed.
2. There is a delay of 47 days in filing the present Appeal. For the reason stated in IA/7941/2013, the delay was condoned vide order dated 18.07.2014.
3. For the sake of Convenience, the parties in the present Appeal being referred to as mentioned in the Complaint before the State Commission. “Kamla Devi & Anr.” are referred as the Complainants. “M/s. Ambuja Cement Limited & Ors” are referred to as the Opposite Party Nos.1, 2 & 3 (OPs) respectively in this matter.
4. Brief facts of the case, as per the Complainant, are that he filed a Complaint before the State Commission against OP-1 & 2 who are manufacturers for supplying the inferior quality of cement and OP-3, the Authorized Dealer. The Complainant started constructing ground floor and first floor of his house on 18.11.2009 and purchased 500 bags of cement from OP-3 between 19.11.2009 to 3.01.2011. Another 300 bags were purchased from OP-3 of which no bill was given by OP-3. On 28.01.2011 and 29.01.2011 there was heavy rain in his village Chirawa following which his RCC roof started leaking. He also noticed mortar walls peeling off. A complaint was made by him on 30.1.2011 and OP-3 inspected the site and informed the cement manufacturers. On 03.02.2011 one Mr. Prakash R. Sharma and one Engineer visited the construction site. On inspection, the representatives of the OPs agreed that cement is defective, and they had suggested that he should get the cement tested from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (‘BITS’). On this advice, he deposited the requisite fees with BITS Pilani and got the mortar and cement tested from this Iinstitute and obtained a report. Based on the report, the Complainant demanded compensation from the OPs.
5. The complaint was opposed by the OPs on the ground that cement supplied was not defective and testing reports submitted by the complainant are not acceptable. They alleged that while constructing his house the cement was not mixed in proportionate quantity and construction was done with dry bricks. They have also referred to Section 13(1)(c) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and provisions of Bureau of Indian Standards under which methods of sampling and analysis of concrete have been given.
6. The learned State Commission vide order dated 27.09.2013 dismissed the complaint with the following Order:—
“8. We are of the opinion that the complainant has not been able to establish supply of inferior cement to him. Ex. P 19 report indicates that proper quantity of cement was not mixed with sand stone that is why the mortar was pealing of. The complainant has not followed the provisions for getting the samples analysed from authorised laboratory. Secondly, he has also not followed the procedure for sampling and testing as prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards. The report Ex. P 22 is itself suspicious in the sense that the report was prepared by Dr. P.Chakravarty who gave no definite conclusion about his test but at the end of report a handwritten note has been appended by Head of Department, Civil Engineer BITS that cement lacks strength. No affidavit of Head of Department has been submitted and how Dr.P. Chakravarty has not given any definite conclusion when he had analysed the cement.
9. We would like to follow the principles laid down by the Hon’ble National Commission in the cases referred by the learned counsel for the opposite parties and there is no evidence in the shape of report from appropriate laboratory and procedure of s.13 (1) (c) of the Act had not been adopted. Thus, the complaint is liable to be dismissed and the same is dismissed accordingly.”
7. B
(1) Power of review - National Commission can exercise power of review limited to cases where some prima facie error appears in the impugned order.(2) Findings - Findings can be concluded to be perve....
Absence of Evidence – In the absence of evidence produced by the complainant in the form of terms of contract entered into between the parties, bills for such alleged items procured in excess, and ev....
Ingredients of ‘deficiency’ within the meaning of Sec. 2(1)(g) of the Act 1986 manifestly clear per State Commission.
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is designed to protect consumers from unfair trade practices and should be interpreted in favor of consumer interests.
(1) Commercial Purpose – It is evident that the appellant has failed to substantiate its preliminary objections that the respondent was not a ‘consumer’ under the Act, since it had failed to establis....
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