Fridge bought for Rs 1.09 lakh stops cooling and then explodes; court orders Rs 1.99 lakh payout

NEW DELHI: A Jharkhand district consumer commission has directed an electronics company and its service centre to pay Rs 1.99 lakh to a customer after his refrigerator allegedly developed repeated cooling problems, was repaired 8 times and later blasted. The commission also directed the parties to pay Rs 1.25 lakh towards the cost of a new refrigerator, Rs 50,000 as compensation and Rs 25,000 as litigation costs. The order was passed on September 21, 2026.Why did the customer approach the commission?According to the commission order, Ganesh Kumar Agiwal bought a refrigerator for Rs 1.09 lakh. After some time, it stopped cooling properly. He complained to the authorised service centre, following which a mechanic repaired the refrigerator eight times. The compressor was also changed and more gas was filled into the refrigerator. The complainant alleged that it subsequently blasted with a loud noise.The complainant then approached the company and its authorised dealer seeking a replacement and he also sent an email on October 17, 2024, asking them to resolve the problem by replacing the refrigerator. As per the order, the issue remained unresolved for another several months.The commission recorded that the company had offered a new refrigerator with an retail price of Rs 1,24,999 at a wholesale price of Rs 83,000.However, the replacement was not provided and aggrieved from this the complainant then approached the consumer commission seeking Rs 4,49,624 as compensation for the alleged deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.What did the commission find?The bench comprising President Sunil Kumar Singh along with member Pradeep Kumar Mishra and member Sanju Shahi noted that the service centre appeared in the case but did not file a written statement despite being given several opportunities. The company also did not appear even after a reminder. The matter was therefore fixed for ex-parte hearing.The complainant filed his statement on affidavit along with documents, including the purchase bill and a copy of his email to the company. After examining the material, the commission found substance in the complaint's case.“Having heard and on careful scrutiny of oral and documentary evidence adduced by the complainant we find much substance in case of the complainant as same is fully corroborated by oral and documentary evidence and there is absolutely nothing on the case record to discard claim of the complainant,” the commission noted.The commission also noted that the customer had suffered physical and financial harassment and mental agony because of the deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.“In view of discussion made above we are of considered opinion that the complainant suffered physical, financial harassment and mental agony due to deficiency of services and unfair trade practice of the O.P’s,” the bench further held.What did the consumer commission order?The Seraikella-Kharsawan district consumer commission directed both opposite parties to:Pay Rs 1,24,999, the price of a new refrigerator, to the customer.Pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.Pay Rs 25,000 towards litigation costs.Make the payment within 45 days of the order.The commission further directed that if the amount was not paid within the prescribed period, it would be recovered through due process with 9 percent annual interest from the date of the order. The total amount ordered, excluding interest, is Rs 1,99,999.