DEHRADUN: Overcharged for their day’s quota of alcohol, two tipplers from Haridwar who dragged their respective liquor vends to court have been awarded Rs 10 lakh in compensation in an order that is bound to leave countless customers similarly shortchanged everyday on a mighty high.
Vijay Kumar and Monu Kumar will get Rs 5 lakh each from the two liquor shop owners who charged the duo Rs 10 and Rs 20 extra for a quarter of whiskey and four cans of beer respectively. Monu and Vijay, who had made the payment online and were armed with evidence that they shelled out more than the MRP, knocked on the doors of the consumer redressal forum of Haridwar, which in addition to the Rs 10 lakh given to them — for mental harassment — also directed the liquor traders to pay the aggrieved drinkers Rs 10,000 for litigation costs.
Vijay had stated in his petition that he bought a “quarter” of ‘Imperial Blue’ earlier this year on January 2 from an “English liquor shop” that belonged to one Sagar Badgoti in the Ramnagar area. The cost of the bottle was Rs 170 but he ended up paying Rs 180.
Monu had felt a similar pang of rage when he purchased four ‘Bee Young’ beer cans on April 4 from the wine shop of one Chedi Lal and was made to pay Rs 20 more.
The shops were given four chances to return the money but they failed. The consumer court found “deficiency in service” and said penalty was fair. It noted that both the petitioners would be entitled to 6% interest on the said amount from the date of filing their case if they are not compensated within 30 days of the order.
Vijay Kumar and Monu Kumar will get Rs 5 lakh each from the two liquor shop owners who charged the duo Rs 10 and Rs 20 extra for a quarter of whiskey and four cans of beer respectively. Monu and Vijay, who had made the payment online and were armed with evidence that they shelled out more than the MRP, knocked on the doors of the consumer redressal forum of Haridwar, which in addition to the Rs 10 lakh given to them — for mental harassment — also directed the liquor traders to pay the aggrieved drinkers Rs 10,000 for litigation costs.
Vijay had stated in his petition that he bought a “quarter” of ‘Imperial Blue’ earlier this year on January 2 from an “English liquor shop” that belonged to one Sagar Badgoti in the Ramnagar area. The cost of the bottle was Rs 170 but he ended up paying Rs 180.
Monu had felt a similar pang of rage when he purchased four ‘Bee Young’ beer cans on April 4 from the wine shop of one Chedi Lal and was made to pay Rs 20 more.
The shops were given four chances to return the money but they failed. The consumer court found “deficiency in service” and said penalty was fair. It noted that both the petitioners would be entitled to 6% interest on the said amount from the date of filing their case if they are not compensated within 30 days of the order.
