Forcible collection of Rs 180 for a 150 rupee pavva proved very costly for a contract owner. The District Consumer Commission has ordered the contract owner to pay a compensation of Rs 7,000 in addition to returning the extra 30 rupees of the liquor. Also, the Excise Department has been asked to take action against the contract operator who adopts corrupt business practices.
Collection of more than MRP at liquor contracts in the state is a big problem. To stop this, the Excise Department has made a provision for cancellation of license under the new policy, despite which the arbitrariness of the contract owners continues. In such a situation, this decision of the District Consumer Commission is a big lesson for the liquor sellers.
Illegal recovery led to economic and mental exploitation.
Mianwala resident Ajay Kaushik had bought a pavva of MRP of Rs 150 from an English liquor shop in Shastri Nagar near Rispana Bridge on April 10, 2021. It is alleged that the salesman deducted Rs 180 through an ATM card swiping machine.
When the consumer protested, he abused him and even started beating him. In this regard, a complaint was made to the District Excise Officer and a legal notice was sent to the contractor Balwant Singh Bora but it had no effect. After this, a complaint was made to the District Consumer Commission. Ajay argued that he was exploited financially and mentally due to illegal recovery. The kind of indecent behavior that was shown when he protested cannot be evaluated in words.
The reply of the Excise Department itself became the evidence
The Excise Department was also made a party in this case. The department’s reply brought an important turn. The District Excise Officer replied that recovery of Rs 180 instead of a 150 rupee pavva is completely prohibited. The Commission said that the reply of the District Excise Officer along with the existing evidence and facts confirms the consumer’s claims. The contractor was ordered to pay Rs 5,000 for mental agony and Rs 2,000 as litigation expenses in addition to the additional Rs 30 collected within 45 days
