Consumer forum ask courier firm to pay Rs 30,000 for delay in delivery

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 1 (MExN): The District Consumer Forum, Dimapur on September 30 held a courier firm responsible for non-delivery and inordinate delay in delivery of four consignments to one of its customer and directed it to pay a fine of Rs 30,000 as compensation.  

The Judgment and Order (CFD Case No 16/16) was passed in connection to a complaint filed by the customer Hosheto Achumi at the District Consumer Forum, Dimapur against courier service-Blue Dart Express at the Blue Hill station, Dimapur for non-delivery of his consignments and delay for about 20 days. The respondent (Blue Dart) claimed that the delivery was delayed as the “proper address of the complainant could not be located.”

  As per the contents of the order a copy of which was made available to The Morung Express, the complainant had submitted that the four consignments were dispatched on August 17, 2016, which reached Dimapur on August 20, 2016.  However, the complainant maintained that till September 9, 2016 the consignments were not delivered to him. As such, the complainant sought compensation while claiming he had undergone a huge financial loss in his business transactions owing to the negligence and deficiency of service by the opposite party (Blue Dart) and also mental torture and stress due to loss in his business of the same. In this connection, at the hearing, the respondent pleaded guilty while acknowledging their weakness, the order also read.  

The Order stated that, “the Respondent pleaded guilty with clean brace acknowledging his weakness is appreciable.” It went on to add that, since the respondent has recently established the new service centre and in view of the “facts and circumstances,” and “this being the first offence committed by him”, was shown “leniency.”  

The Order then directed the courier firm to pay Rs 30,000 (mental agony and inconveniences – 7000/- + Deficiency in Service – 13,000/-  + Cost of Litigation – 10,000/-). The courier service has been ordered to pay  within one month’s time, failing which an interest of 9% of the interest per annum would be accrued to the award amount.