Chandigarh man seeking Rs 15L, including refund for car due to its high speed alarm, denied relief

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission stated that the alarm was for the safety of the complainant as well as the other vehicles and pedestrians on the road and dismissed the plea of the resident.

3 min readChandigarhNov 16, 2020 10:48 AM IST

“Exceeding the speed of 120 km per hour may give joy to the rider, but it endangers the public life and the safety of those on road," the commission said in the order.

Noting that exceeding the speed of 120 km per hour may give joy to the rider, but endangers public life and the safety of those on the road, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission dismissed the plea of a Chandigarh resident who had sought refund for his car due to its high speed alarm that beeped every time the car crossed the speed of 80 km per hour.

The complainant, Vishal Chopra, had said that the sound creates “nuisance”. He had said that in May 2018, he had purchased Brezza Zdi+ car from a Maruti Suzuki dealer, Autopace Network, for Rs 9,76,715 and the time of demo or as per manual, it was not specified that the vehicle had a high speed alarm. However, in the fourth week of May 2018, when he was driving the vehicle on the highway from Chandigarh to Delhi, suddenly the alarm started beeping which caused nuisance to him. Chopra informed the dealer about it, who told Chopra that the alarm has been installed as per the government regulation, AIS 145, and as and when the speed exceeds 80 km/h, primary level warning with two beeps sound and when the speed exceeds 120 km per hour, the secondary level warning beeps continuously until the vehicle slows down to 118 km per hour.

Chopra, however, alleged deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on part of Maruti Suzuki and the dealership, and filed a consumer complaint seeking Rs 15 lakh nearly, including refund for the car.

In its reply, Maruti Suzuki submitted that it is a safety feature for category M and N vehicles, and the additional safety feature is as per the mandate of provision.

The commission, after hearing the arguments, stated that the alarm was for the safety of the complainant as well as the other vehicles and pedestrians on the road. It alerts the driver that the vehicle has crossed such speed.

“Exceeding the speed of 120 km per hour may give joy to the rider, but it endangers the public life and the safety of those on road,” the commission said in the order.

“The OPs cannot change this safety feature which is as per mandate of the relevant rules. The life of the complainant as well as others is precious and as per wishes of the complainant, there cannot be any amendment to the rules and with his act he may put the lives of other human beings at risk,” said the commission.

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The commission, thus, while dismissing the plea of Chopra, further said, “We also cannot lose sight of the judicial notice that more people die due to road accidents in India than because of diseases, and in majority of such cases, accidents happen due to over speed. The complainant wants to drive his vehicle rashly, exceeding the speed of 120 km per hour, without any warning alarm and thereby, put his life as well as that of others at risk. Such averments are not categorised under unfair trade practice or deficiency in service on the part of the OPs.”

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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