The Ropar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a Mohali glass merchant to refund Rs 91,000 along with 9 percent annual interest to a customer after finding the trader guilty of deficiency in service for failing to install toughened glass despite receiving payment and labor fees.
A panel comprising Commission President Kuljit Pal Singh and members Ranvir Kaur and Ramesh Kumar Gupta issued the verdict against Navpreet, the proprietor of Preet Glass House, in a complaint filed by Dr. Vinay Mohan. In addition to the refund and interest, the commission awarded the consumer Rs 10,000 as lump-sum compensation and litigation costs.
Failed Installation Promises
The matter stems from a transaction on November 24, 2021, when Dr. Mohan purchased toughened residential glass for Rs 93,433, a sum that incorporated Rs 7,000 specifically billed for labor and fitting charges. Although the shop accepted the order and collected payments, the dealer never carried out the promised installation at the buyer’s home.
Following the transaction, the buyer made repeated inquiries and showroom visits over several months to request completion of the job. During a phone conversation on May 13, 2022, the dealer assured the buyer’s family member that technicians would complete the installation on May 14. After that commitment went unfulfilled, Dr. Mohan issued a legal notice on May 17, which was delivered on May 20. Continued non-compliance led the consumer to seek redress under Section 35 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Evidentiary Findings And Award
Despite receiving formal notice of the consumer complaint, the dealer failed to appear before the commission and was proceeded against ex parte on October 17, 2022. As a result, the complainant’s claims and supporting documentation went unrefuted during the proceedings.
While assessing financial proof, the commission verified bank account statements showing payments of Rs 50,000 on November 30, 2021, and Rs 41,000 on December 3, 2021. The panel capped the refund at Rs 91,000 after finding no written evidence to support the complainant’s claim of paying the remaining Rs 2,433 in cash. The forum also set aside three invoices from an unrelated glass outlet, declaring them irrelevant to the respondent’s liability, and noted that no documentation was produced regarding the physical location of the raw materials.
Concluding that the firm’s failure to fit the glass caused substantial harassment and security concerns for the householder, the tribunal delivered its July 9 decision requiring Preet Glass House to return Rs 91,000 with 9 percent interest from the complaint filing date until realization, along with the Rs 10,000 penalty.
