A Telangana district consumer commission has ordered an industrial lift installation company to refund a Hyderabad property owner an advance payment of Rs 3 lakh with 12 percent annual interest after the vendor failed to complete an installation project in Alwal.
The bench, comprising President Vakkanti Narasimha Rao and members P V T R Jawahar Babu and D Sreede, held the firm liable for a deficiency in service. In its July 20 order, the panel noted that the company’s failure to complete the installation within the agreed 45-day timeframe prevented the property owner from leasing his premises, resulting in financial losses, mental agony, and inconvenience.
Unfinished Work and Structural Deviations
According to the complaint, the property owner entered into an agreement with the lift installation firm on June 20, 2024, for a total contract value of Rs 6.50 lakh. Under the mutually agreed terms, work was scheduled to begin in June 2024 and conclude within 45 days. The complainant issued a cheque for Rs 3 lakh as an advance payment on the day the contract was executed.
Although the contractor commenced preliminary civil work and installed structural rods, operations stopped after approximately 10 days without justification. The property owner later discovered that the frame and door dimensions did not match the approved design specifications. Due to the prolonged delay and neglect, the installed metal components rusted and suffered damage.
Unanswered Communications and Ex Parte Proceedings
Despite repeated attempts to contact the firm through phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp, the company failed to respond or provide updates on the status of the project. Evidence presented to the commission, including site photographs and WhatsApp chat screenshots, established that the contractor halted work and retained the advance payment.
The company also failed to respond to a legal notice served by the complainant. After the district consumer commission issued a formal notice regarding the matter, the firm did not appear before the tribunal, leading the panel to hear the case ex parte.
Breakdown of Refund and Financial Penalties
The commission directed the installer to refund the Rs 3 lakh advance along with 12 percent interest per annum, calculated from the date of payment until full realization.
In addition to the refund and interest, the panel ordered the company to pay Rs 25,000 in compensation for mental agony and inconvenience, as well as Rs 10,000 to cover legal costs. The tribunal specified that all directed payments must be executed within 45 days of the ruling.
