Holding the manufacturer responsible for deficiency in service, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Rohtak, has directed a company to refund Rs 27,000 along with interest to a local resident whose air conditioner remained non-functional during the warranty period due to the non-availability of spare parts.
In his complaint, Sumit of HSVP Sector 3 said he had purchased an air conditioner for Rs 36,000 from Palika Bazar, Rohtak, in March 2021 with a five-year warranty. According to the complaint, the AC developed technical faults after about two-and-a-half years of use. It was covered under an extended warranty on components.
The complainant alleged that he repeatedly approached the dealer, service centre and manufacturer for repairs. Although technicians inspected the appliance and identified a fault in the outdoor unit’s printed circuit board (PCB), the defect was not rectified for several months. Sumit claimed that despite repeated service requests and reminders, the AC remained unusable.
During the proceedings, the company contended that the required spare part was unavailable because the model had become old and that its technician had offered alternative solutions, including replacement of the outdoor unit. However, the Commission observed that the company failed to provide convincing documentary evidence to support its claims. It also noted that the manufacturer could not specify when the required spare part became available.
The Commission, comprising its President Nagender Singh Kadian and Members Dr Tripti Pannu and Dr Vijender Singh, held that the complainant was deprived of the use of the product due to the company’s inability to repair it within a reasonable time. Observing that the AC had been used for about three years, the Commission ordered a 25 per cent depreciation on the purchase price and directed the company to refund Rs 27,000 with 9 per cent annual interest from the date of filing of the complaint.
The company was also directed to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation for deficiency in service and another Rs 5,000 towards litigation expenses. The order is to be complied within 30 days.
