Company told to refund money
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed Rockland Leasing Limited to refund Rs 40,000 to the complainant along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from the date of deposit till its actual refund, on account of deficiency in service. A sum of Rs 1,500 has been imposed as costs.

In his complaint, Mr S.L Kapoor, a resident of S.A.S. Nagar, had stated that he had deposited a sum of Rs 40,000 with Rockland Leasing Limited. for a short period of three months at the interest rate of 18 per cent per annum . The principal amount was to be refunded on maturity.

The company in accordance with this issued a cheque for Rs 40,000, the principal amount. The interest was to be paid in cash, but the said amount was not paid off and the cheque stood bounced. The opposite party did not appear and the case was proceeded ex-parte.

The Forum bench, comprising its President, Dr H.C Modi, and members, Dr R.K Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta, held that the version of the complainant remained unrefuted as the opposite party did not appear at any stage to refute the averments made in the complaint nor to adduce any evidence. Hence, the claim of the complainant stood established.

They observed that `` it was obligatory on the part of the company to refund the amount with contractual rate of interest after the expiry of the stipulated period of three months but their failure to do so constituted deficiency in service.''