The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has ordered the TVS Suzuki Limited and its authorised agency to jointly pay Rs 10,000 to a customer for selling a TVS scooty with manufacturing defects. ‘‘The opposite parties are directed to pay a sum of Rs 10,000 with 9 per cent interest from March 27, 1996 till the date of realisation, being the present value of the vehicle,’’ the Forum headed by V. Kengasubbiah held while passing orders on a complaint from V. Chandrasekhar of Besant Nagar. According to the complainant, he had purchased a TVS Scooty from TVS Suzuki Limited through its authorised agency, Ramkay Agencies of Adyar on March 27, 1996. The cost of the vehicle was Rs 21,000. But in the beginning itself, the vehicle developed various problems, particularly in the starting system. As the kickstarter was found defective, the vehicle used to stop abruptly on the way. At one stage, the kickstarter broke into pieces causing leg injuries. The opposite parties were not cooperative in correcting the said manufacturing defect. Though the company issued free service coupons, the agency refused to accept them as a result of which the complainant spent Rs 7,500 towards servicing the vehicle, the complainant said. On behalf of the opposite parties, it was contended that the scooty met with an accident and to get rid of his vehicle, the complainant made unreasonable demands with untrue allegations. The complainant himself had not availed the warranty benefit, they argued.
