Case: Momna Gauri Vs. Regional Manager and Ors

2. The appellant, who is a physically challenged person, purchased a Vikram 750 Delux three wheeler auto from Nawal Auto Sales, Morena (respondent No. 3) by availing loan of Rs.Having failed to evoke any response from the respondents, the appellant filed a complaint under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and prayed for issue of a direction to the dealer and the manufacturer to replace the vehicle. In paragraphs 4 and 5 of the complaint, the appellant made the following avermentsThat the defendant No. 1, aforesaid vehicle three wheeler Auto Vikram, 750 Delux, the chassis whereof was broken from the company itself, and the above said vehicle is in condemned position and the defendant No. 1 intentionally gave to the plaintiff vehicle with broken chassis and there are mechanical defects in the vehicle, and when the plaintiff got the above said vehicle driven, then there was difficulty in the operation of the vehicle and when the plaintiff saw, its chassis was broken. The plaintiff purchases the vehicle from defendant No. 1 on 08.05.2007 and on date 10.05.2007 at the time of taking away the vehicle, the chassis was found to be broken. The plaintiff told the defendant No. 1 as to why you have given the vehicle with broken chassis. You give me the new vehicle, but the defendant No. 1 by not giving the new vehicle, by changing to the plaintiff, got the broken chassis welded, and gave this in writing that whatever welding work has been done in the vehicle, in case, there will be any difficulty in that, then its payment shall be made by the company, but by the defendant No. 1, by not giving the vehicle, duly changed, gave the vehicle with broken chassis.5. That because of the plaintiff being handicapped, for her maintenance had purchased the above vehicle, but after the vehicle of the plaintiff being got welded done, the chassis broke again. The plaintiff again made complaint to the defendant No. 1 with the welded chassis, has again broken, but by the defendant No. 1, by not giving the above said vehicle by changing, again got it welded and the defendant No. 1 told this to the plaintiff that in case you have to take the above vehicle, take, we will not give the second vehicle; became bent upon quarrelling. It was stated by the plaintiff that she has purchased this vehicle from you, has paid the money, you are the dealer of the company, but by the defendant No. 1, by getting the broken chassis welded, gave it against. From the above said date, the above vehicle of the plaintiff is standing at home. The plaintiff is not capable of getting the business done through that vehicle. The rims of the wheels of the Auto of the plaintiff are of poor quality and have mechanical defect. The body is also weak. Defendant No. 1 by playing fraud with the plaintiff has intentionally given the above said vehicle of the broken chassis.Respondent Nos.1 to 3 filed separate written statements to contest the complaint. In their counter, respondent Nos. 1 and 2 claimed that the chassis cracked because of overloading and they were not liable to replace the vehicle. They further averred that with a view to maintain the goodwill, the company had replaced the chassis. An objection was also raised to the maintainability of the complaint by stating that the financier, namely, Shriram Transport Finance Agency had not been impleaded as a party.6. In support of the complaint, the appellant filed her affidavit. On behalf of respondent Nos.1 and 2, an affidavit of Shri N.K. Dhawan (Deputy Manager) was filed.7. The District Forum considered the rival pleadings and the documents produced by the parties and held that the vehicle purchased by the appellant had a manufacturing defect and that was the reason why the chassis had broken more than once. The District Forum noticed the plea of respondent Nos.1 and 2 that the cracks had developed in the chassis because of overloading and rejected the same by observing that no tangible evidence was produced to substantiate this assertion. The objection regardingof Shriram Transport Finance Agency as a party was also rejected by the District Forum on the ground that its presence was not necessary for deciding the complaint. In conclusion, the District Forum allowed the complaint and directed the respondents to make available new vehicle to the appellant, who was directed to deposit the old vehicle. The District Forum further directed the appellant to give intimation to the Finance Company about the change of vehicle.8. The appeal filed by the respondents was dismissed by the State Commission by recording its agreement with the District Forum on the issue of deficiency in service.9. The National Commission modified the direction given by the District Forum by relying upon the judgment in Maruti Udyog Ltd. v. Susheel Kumar Gabgotra, (2006) 4 SCC 644.  The operative portion of the order passed by the National Commission reads as underis not doubt that the chassis of the brand new three wheeler motor vehicle broke down within a short period. Whether this was due to the allegedcould not be clearly established by the petitioners merely on the strength of the challans of fines under the M.V. Act, produced by them. However, we are inclined to agree with Ms. Kohli that in view of the law on the subject laid down by the Apex Court in a catena of judgments (including that in the case cited by Mrs. Kohli above), replacement of the defective chassis by a new one is the legally available relief to the respondent. We, therefore, direct the petitioners to replace the chassis of the vehicle with a brand new one and provide the requisite fresh warranty therefore. In addition, any repairs that may be necessary to make the vehicle completelyshall be carried out by the petitioners free of charge to the respondent. These directions shall be complied with within two weeks of the respondent bringing the vehicle in question to the premises of the authorized dealer. In addition, considering the specific fact and circumstances of the case, the petitioner shall pay a sum of Rs.10,000/to respondent No. 1 towards the cost of the proceeding all through, within four weeks from the dated of this order.The plea of respondent Nos. 1 and 2 that chassis of the vehicle had broken down due to overloading was rejected by the National Commission by recording the followingis not doubt that the chassis of the brand new three wheeler motor vehicle broke down within a short period. Whether this was due to the allegedcould not be clearly established by the petitioners merely on the strength of the challans of fines under the M.V. Act, produced by them."

Reasoning:
13. In the present case, the National Commission did not find any jurisdictional error or perversity in the finding recorded by the District Forum on the issue of deficiency in service. The National Commission also did not find any fault with the conclusion recorded by the District Forum that there was manufacturing defect in the vehicle sold to the appellant. Therefore, it must be held that by interfering with the order of the District Forum, the National Commission transgressed the limits of its jurisdiction under Section 21 of the Act.