The regulator also critised the act and censured the company over the harassment of customers and deficiency in its services. It also mentioned that it was the store’s duty to provide a free paper bag to the customer, who had bought their product.
Dinesh Prasad Raturi, a Chandigarh resident, in his complaint to the consumer forum said he had bought a pair of shoes from a Bata store in Sector 22D on February 5. The store charged him Rs 402 inclusive of the paper bag but he sought a refund of Rs 3 (paper bag charge) refusing to pay it and also demanded a compensation for deficiency in services. Dinesh Prasad also told the forum that by levying the paper bag charge on him, the company was also endorsing its brand on the bag, which was not justified.
On this, the company rebutted the allegations of deficiency in its services but the forum refused to give it any breather and said forcing a consumer to pay for a paper bag was undoubtedly a glitch in Bata’s services. The forum ordered Bata India to refund the cost of the bag and also pay Rs 1,000 as the litigation charges. It further ordered Bata to pay Rs 3,000 compensation to Dinesh Prasad for the mental harassment and Rs 5,000 for the legal aid.
The forum further directed Bata India to provide free paper bags to its customers and also distinguished that if the companies were that worried about the environment, they must provide free environment-friendly bags to their customers.
