NCDRC junks 22-year-old case, says it involved a paltry amount

The apex consumer commission has dismissed a revision petition in a 22-year-old case in which vehicle companies had charged extra for a truck on grounds of price escalation, saying it involved a "very paltry" sum and did not have any serious question of law.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) dismissed the plea of the Allahabad office of Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Ltd and Motor and General Sales Ltd and directed them to refund UP native S K Singh an amount of Rs 14,500, charged by the firms claiming an escalation in the price of a truck he had purchased in 1994.

"I have gone through the record. Further, the amount involved is very paltry sum of Rs 14,500 and this litigation is going on for more than 22 years. Therefore we are not inclined to entertain this revision petition (filed by the firms)," NCDRC Presiding Member Rekha Gupta said.
The commission, while referring to a Supreme Court verdict on litigation in trivial matters, rejected the revision plea saying there was no serious question of law.
It upheld the district consumer forum's decision asking the firms to refund the Rs 14,500, which they had charged claiming escalation in the vehicle's price, and held that it was clear-cut deficiency in service.

According to the compliant, Singh had purchased a truck for Rs 2,67,322 on January 29, 1994 and was assured of its delivery within a week.

However, Singh received a letter on February 7, 1994 regarding the escalation in the price of the vehicle by Rs 14,500 and saying that it would be delivered only after he paid the additional amount.
Singh deposited the extra amount on February 17, 1994 and immediately received the vehicle.
He claimed that the immediate delivery of the vehicle after payment of the additional amount proved that the firm had kept a ready stock of the vehicles and had deliberately delayed delivery for illegal gains.