Whether a Consumer can seek replacement of his car if the delivery of car is one year late?
Shubham Budhiraja[1]
Mr. A bought a car new from
the dealer and paid full consideration. However, the vehicle was delivered after
1 year. Mr. A alleged that said car is old one and has many defects. On denial of
replacement by dealer, Mr. A filed consumer complaint seeking replacement of
vehicle. District Consumer forum and State Commission directed the dealer to replace
the car. The National Commission modified the order and directed to compensate
instead of replacement. Hon’ble Supreme Court of India set aside National
Commission order and held that[2]:
(I)
When customer booked a new car and paid the
sale consideration of a new car, the dealer was supposed to and/or bound to
deliver the new car.
(II)
In exercising of revisional jurisdiction the
National Commission has no jurisdiction to interfere with the concurrent
findings recorded by the District Forum and the State Commission which are on appreciation
of evidence on record. Therefore, while passing the impugned judgment and order
the National Commission has acted beyond the scope and ambit of the revisional jurisdiction
conferred under Section 21(b) of the Consumer Protection Act.
(III)
Non delivery of a new car can be said to be
an unfair trade practice and even it can be said to be dishonesty on the part
of the dealer and against the morality and ethics.
[1]
Advocate, Delhi High Court [LLB, ACS, BCOM(H)], Budhirajalawchambers@gmail.com, +011-45059142
[2] CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5928 of 2022, Judgment
dated 08/09/2022
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