Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 6: Dakshina Kannada District Consumers Grievances Redressal Forum has ordered a concern to either repair or replace a television set it had sold to a customer and then failed to repair it free of cost as per warranty terms.

Venugopal from Kodiyalguthu in the city had bought an LCD television set of a reputed brand from a concern near Chilimbi in the city by payng Rs 59,900. The electronics showroom had promised him that his television set is covered by a warranty for a year during which period any defects would be repaired or replaced free of cost. 

This set stopped functioning within a few months. Venugopal sent email to the company and informed the shop about the defect. As there was no response for several days, he again sent an email, asking the TV to be repaired free of cost as per warranty terms. 

Within a few days from then, an official of the company, representative of the firm which sold the set, and a technician arrived. After detailed check, they  said the problem was not result of any manufacturing defect, and expressed preparedness to repair the same if payment of  Rs 22,000 is made. Venugopal stuck to his stand that it was the responsibility of the company to repair the TV without any charges, after which the concerned reduced the charges to Rs 19,000, waiving service charges. 

Refusing to budge, Venugopal approached the consumers forum. After hearing the arguments, presiding officer of the forum, Asha Shetty, ruled that the television set in question suffered from manufacturing defects. She ordered the company to pay Rs 5,000 as fine to Venugopal, reimburse Rs 1,000 towards court costs, and also either repair the defective part or replace the TV with a new one within 30 days.