FATEHGARH SAHIB: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Fatehgarh Sahib has directed Hutchision South Ltd to pay compensation of Rs 2,000 on account of mental tension and harassment to Jaspal Singh, a resident of Bassi Pathana town of district Fatehgarh Sahib.

The Forum also directed the telecom company to pay Rs 500 as cost of the complaint.  Jaspal Singh in his complaint alleged that he had  availed the facility of 2000 SMS pack from the company from a Bassi Pathana based  agent Aman Telecom through its proprietor Amandeep Singh on January 20, 2007. 

He said that  and at the time of taking the connection, the company assured him that 2,000 free messages of the connection will remain valid and also assured that he can avail the free message facility on the consideration of Rs 6 per week till the validity period of recharge card.  He also alleged that new traffic was implemented on January 27, 2007 the company had cut down the message from 2,000 to 1,000 and increased the charges for providing the services from Rs 6 to Rs 9.

He also alleged that the company had shortened the area of sending 1,000 messages from National Circle to Punjab Circle only and the act of the company amounts to deficiency of the service.  But the company had raised preliminary objections that the complaint is liable to be dismissed on the ground that as per terms and conditions of the agreement form, the complainant and the company have agreed that in case of any dispute, the jurisdiction would best with the Courts at Delhi and not at Fatehgarh Sahib. 

The company also maintained that the complainant had subscribed to the SMS plan; however the validity of the same can be changed at any time.  They also maintained that the complainant has taken promotional pack and the same can be changed as per police of the company.

The Forum observed that it is the duty of the company to produce on file the documentary evidence as to how the 1,000 SMS free validity have been decreased to 30 days and how SMS traffic has been changed from January 27, 2007 and how SMS has been limited to Punjab Circle only but they failed to prove the same by any cogent and reliable evidence. The company could not satisfy their plea that complaint is not in jurisdiction of Fatehgarh Sahib. 

Lawyer Naveen Behl informed that Jaspal Singh had  filed complaint against CEO/Chairman of Hutchision Essan South Ltd, New Delhi ; MD/Chairman of Hutchision Essan South Ltd, SAS Nager and Amandeep Singh, partner/proprietor of Aman Telecom, Bassi Pathana.