Chandigarh: Chandigarh consumer forum has directed Big Bazaar store at Industrial Area, Phase 1, to pay Rs 23,000 in two separate cases for charging Rs 18 from two customers for a carry bag. The store has to pay Rs 1500 each to the two complainants and deposit Rs 20,000 in the “Consumer Legal Aid Account”.
The complaint comes after Panchkula resident Baldev Raj said that he purchased certain items from the store on March 20, 2019. At the check-out counter, the cashier told Raj that he will be charged Rs 18 for a cloth bag in order to carry the purchased items.
In a similar complaint, another Panchkula resident, Santosh Kumari, said that she was also charged Rs 18 for a carry bag.
In its reply, Big Bazaar said that the amount had been rightly charged as the same was displayed in the store. It added that the consumer had given their consent for the cloth bag, after which the cashier added the extra amount.
However, the complainants alleged that it was not mentioned anywhere in the store that extra charges will be applicable for a carry bag. Thus, they filed a formal complaint at the Consumer Forum on April 4, 2019.
After hearing the arguments, the forum said, “…it would have been very odd and inconvenient for the complainant to carry the new articles in hand throughout, without a carry bag. In this backdrop, charges of such things (cloth bags) cannot be separately foisted upon the consumers and would amount to overcharging….”
“…the Complainant and other gullible consumers like him has certainly been taken for a ride by the opposite party. Undoubtedly, the opposite party (Big Bazaar) has several stores across the country and made a lot of money. Thus, the act of the opposite party, by forcing the gullible consumers to pay additionally for the carry bags, surely and certainly amounts to deficiency in service and its indulgence into unfair trade practice…”, the forum’s judgement added.
Courtesy: indianexpress.com
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress high command will decide on the cabinet reshuffle amid mounting pressure within the ruling party to effect a change, aimed at providing opportunity to fresh faces.
A group of legislators has already decided to go to New Delhi later this month, after the bypolls, to meet and discuss the cabinet reshuffle with the high command.
"I don't know what they will do about the reshuffle. What can I say about it? The chief minister and the high command have to decide. It is left to their discretion. It is not right on our part to speculate about it," Parameshwara said in response to a question raised by reporters.
Stating that the high command would observe everything, he said, "First-timers (MLAs) came and said they want to become ministers; also, two to four time MLAs said they too want to become ministers. They held separate dinner meetings to discuss. They have brought things to the notice of the high command and the leadership will decide on what needs to be done."
"The AICC general secretary in-charge will look into the matter and try to resolve it at his level or report to the leadership. Such things are not new for the Congress. While running governments in several states, such things keep occurring, and the high command will look into it and set things right. They will do it," he added.
A group of senior Congress legislators, who have been MLAs for over three terms, met Siddaramaiah last month, urging him to rejig his cabinet and give them an opportunity to serve as ministers.
The group of about 40 legislators had said that they had planned to go to New Delhi together on April 11 after the bypolls, to meet the Congress high command and discuss including at least 20 of them during the reshuffle.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
Ahead of meeting the CM, the group of aspirants met over dinner and discussed the much-awaited state cabinet rejig. Some first and second time legislators have also recently pressed for a cabinet reshuffle.
The demand for a cabinet reshuffle has come to the fore, amid the ongoing power tussle within the ruling party over the CM post.
Parameshwara on Monday asserted that Siddaramaiah will continue as the chief minister for the full five-year term under the "current situation." He, however, maintained that any decision regarding the leadership change rests solely with the Congress high command.
When asked if the high command had indicated anything regarding Siddaramaiah continuing as CM, Parameshwara said on Tuesday, "Why repeatedly ask the same question? What I said yesterday is done. Why do you want me to repeat it?"
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
According to party sources, while Siddaramaiah favors a cabinet reshuffle, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on the leadership change.
According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, which will scuttle the chances of Shivakumar from occupying the coveted post.
Karnataka has a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the chief minister.
Two cabinet berths are currently vacant, following the resignation of B Nagendra over allegations of embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, and the sacking of K N Rajanna on the instructions of the party high command.
