Consumer commission orders Rs 1.99 lakh payout after fridge explosion
· India · Times of India, Indian Express
A Jharkhand district consumer commission directed an electronics company and its service centre to pay Rs 1.99 lakh to a customer after his refrigerator allegedly developed cooling problems, was repaired eight times and later exploded. The commission also ordered the parties to pay Rs 1.25 lakh for a new refrigerator, Rs 50,000 as compensation and Rs 25,000 as litigation costs. Ganesh Kumar Agiwal bought the refrigerator for Rs 1.09 lakh and complained after it stopped cooling properly, leading to eight repairs and a compressor change. The issue remained unresolved for several months despite the company offering a replacement at wholesale price of Rs 83,000. The bench comprising President Sunil Kumar Singh and members Pradeep Kumar Mishra and Sanju Shahi noted the service centre did not file a written statement despite opportunities, leading to an ex-parte hearing.
Why it matters
Consumers in Jharkhand and across India now have a precedent for seeking compensation when appliances fail repeatedly after multiple repairs. The ruling reinforces accountability of manufacturers and service centres for product defects and service deficiencies.
Read the original report — Times of India
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