STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, PUNJAB, CHANDIGARH.

Date of Institution : 23.06.2024 Reserved on : 10.01.2025 Date of decision : 27.01.2025 Regional Passport Office, Amritsar, SCO No.110, 2^nd-4^th, Floor, Raj Tower, District Shopping Centre, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, through its Passport Officer.

……..Appellant/Opposite Party Versus Sandeep Singh, S/o S.Sukhwinder Singh, aged 28 years, H.No.54, Sewa Nagar, Ram Tirath Road, Amritsar Punjab.

…….Respondent/Complainant First Appeal U/S 41 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 against the order dated 29.04.2024 passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Amritsar Quorum:-

Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Daya Chaudhary, President Ms. Simarjot Kaur, Member Mr. Vishav Kant Garg, Member

1) Whether Reporters of the Newspapers may be allowed to see the Judgment? Yes/No

2) To be referred to the Reporters or not? Yes/No

3) Whether judgment should be reported in the Digest? Yes/No Present :-

For the appellant : Sh.Indresh Goel, Advocate For the respondent : Sh.Sukhandeep Singh, Advocate SIMARJOT KAUR, MEMBER This Appeal has been filed by the Appellant/Opposite Party under Section 41 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (in short ‘The Act’) being aggrieved by the impugned Order dated 29.04.2024 passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Amritsar (in short ‘the District Commission’)

whereby the Complaint of the Complainant had been allowed.

2. It would be apposite to mention that hereinafter the parties will be referred, as have been arrayed before the District Commission.

3. Briefly, the facts of the case as made out by the Complainant before the District Commission are that the Complainant was issued passport No.K7755958 by the OP office. It was valid from 13.03.2013 to 12.03.2023. The Complainant has been residing/living in Melbourne Australia on Post Study Work visa having its expiry on 01.12.2025. The Complainant visited India due to some urgent work and his return ticket was booked for 08.02.2023. His passport was about to expire on 12.03.2023. Before expiry of the passport, the Complainant had approached the OP and requested to book an appointment for renewal of the passport before 31.01.2023. The concerned officer of the OP had informed him that date of appointment at the OP office could only be generated through online system. Thereafter he could submit the Application for an early appointment. Accordingly, the Complainant had applied for re-issuance/renewal of passport with OP. His online Application was registered with ARN No.22-0021059440 dated 10.12.2022 at 9:31 am. He had paid the requisite fee of Rs.1500/-. Accordingly, he got his appointment scheduled. As per the advice of the concerned officer of the OP, the Complainant had made several visits/requests for an early appointment for re-issuance of his passport from 10.12.2022 till 05.01.2023 but all in vain. Thereafter, he had moved a request letter on 05.01.2023 for an early appointment but the officials of the OP office had refused to receive the same. Then, the Complainant had also sent an email to the OP by attaching all the necessary documents on 05.01.2023. Since the OP did not respond to his email and he had requested for refund of the fee amount of Rs.1500/-. Since the OP had failed to address his grievance, the said act of the OP amounted to ‘deficiency in service’ and ‘unfair trade practice’. Hence, the Complaint was filed by the Complainant by seeking directions to the OP to pay/refund the fee of Rs.1500/- along with interest @ 12% p.a. from 10.12.2022 till its realization and further to pay compensation for an amount of Rs.3,00,000/- for causing physical and mental harassment. The OP also be directed to pay an amount of Rs.15,000/- as litigation expenses.

4. Notice of the Complaint was issued to the OP on 10.02.2023. Despite service none had appeared on behalf of the OP and it was proceeded ex-parte by the District Commission vide order dated 13.03.2023. Thereafter Sh.Navjot Singh Advocate