Forum fines courier firm for ‘negligence’

[sajiv]

Forum fines courier firm for 'negligence'

HYDERABAD: The A.P. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (APSCRDC) fined a courier firm, U-Call for deficiency in service and also set aside the decision of Chittoor District Forum which struck down the complaint against it.

The State Forum ordered the firm to compensate the loss of paintings of K. Sitharam, a resident of Chittoor and Art Teacher who couriered his works to Hyderabad for participating in an art contest on December 17, 2002.

After being assured of a 'safe delivery', he was shocked to realise that the parcel was not delivered to the address concerned.

When the customer requested the company for proof of delivery (PoD), he was told he should have collected it with in 10 days from the delivery as they do not maintain record for PoDs. Later, he was also informed that the paintings were delivered to a person, who had nothing to do with the contest.

When the legal notice sent by the complainant to the company went unanswered, he approached the District Forum seeking Rs. 1 lakh towards compensation with 12 per cent interest and court costs.

The company argued that the person who delivered the parcel was no more with them.

It further claimed that there was no deficiency of service as the parcel was delivered according to the delivery run sheet.

Convinced with the courier firm's argument, the District Forum dismissed the complaint.

Mr. Sitharam contested the verdict in the State Commission.

The Commission disagreed with the District Forum's decision and observed that the firm did not take proper care to deliver the paintings consignment to the address given by the complainant.

Taking the prize money which could have been bagged by the art teacher into consideration, the Commission ordered the courier firm to pay Rs.10, 000 to cover the loss of paintings, a further amount of Rs.10, 000 towards compensation and Rs.3, 000 for court costs.

The time for compliance was one month.