New Delhi: State-owned Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) has been asked by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 30,000 as compensation to a woman for their failure to install Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections at her house.
The forum also directed the gas distribution company to install PNG connections at her house while observing that IGL was “deficient in service” as it did not provide connections to the woman inspite of fulfilment of all formalities on her behalf.
The West Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum asked the IGL to pay the amount to Delhi-based Kailash Kumari Sethi who had applied for three PNG connections in 2010.
“The respondent (IGL) is clearly deficient in service by not providing PNG connection to complainant (Sethi) inspite of compliance of all the formalities on her behalf. The matter was being delayed by the OP (IGL) for one reason or the other on the ground that the matter would be sorted out and she would be provided the PNG connection.
“Opposite Party (IGL) is directed to install PNG connection...OP is directed to pay a compensation of Rs 30,000 to the complainant for the inconvenience and hardship caused to her...,” the forum, presided over by Bimla Makin, said.
Sethi had approached the forum alleging that in July 2010, she had booked three PNG connections at IGL's Janakpuri office by paying a sum of Rs 6,000 for each connection.
She contended that in April 2011, she had written a letter to IGL's General Manager for installation of PNG connections as it was installed in her neighbours' house within a few months of booking.
She said that after she wrote the letter, the IGL, instead of installing PNG connections, returned the registration amount stating that she had shown disinterest for the installation.
On receiving the letter, she immediately reverted to IGL saying she had never asked for cancellation of her booking and also returned the cheques received by her, Sethi said, adding she had also sent a legal notice and when the company did not take any step, she approached the forum.
The forum, in its order, observed that bonafide of the complainant was clear from the fact that even after receiving refund, she approached the IGL and instead of encashment of those cheques returned it to the company.
Regarding Sethi's contention that the IGL had returned the registration amount stating that she had shown disinterest for installation, the forum said “...when a complainant deposited Rs 18,000 for obtaining three PNG connections in her account, why would she be disinterested in installation of connection and why would she make representation to the General Manager”?
“The result of her representation was that instead of installation of the connection, the money deposited by her was sent back. If she was disinterested, then why without her representation the money was not refunded to her”? it said.
During the adjudication of the complaint, the IGL had assured the forum in September last year that matter would be sorted out and in all probability PNG connection would be provided to Sethi.
