Courier firm to pay Rs 34k to customer

“The complainant (N K Jain) suffered loss of Rs 24,000 because the courier company failed to deliver the booked consignment to the consignee.

“We allow the complaint with the directions to the courier company to pay the complainant a sum of Rs 24,000 and another sum of Rs 10,000 as damages and cost of litigation,” the forum presided by B B Chaudhary said.

The forum’s order came on a plea by N K Jain,an East Delhi-based drawing dies and machine spares manufacturer.

Jain said he had booked a consignment through the courier service on March 24,2008,but the same was not delivered by Blaze Flash to the consignee Apar Industries Ltd. It resulted in a loss of Rs 24,000 as he had to send the material again.

In its defence,the courier firm denied that it caused any deficiency in service. It,however,admitted that it had received the parcel from Jain but the same was lost in transit.

The company had contended that it has limited liability to the extent of Rs 100 only as per the terms and conditions.

The forum rejected the contention saying the “company has not placed on the file,the copy of the consignment note” nor had it,in its affidavit deposed that those terms and conditions were duly brought to the notice of the complainant.

“Subsequently,the courier company cannot take benefit of those terms and conditions,” it added.