Back on September 10, 2017, Gurmail Singh Sekhon bought a Scorpio from Harbir Automobile Private Limited, and authorised Mahindra dealer. The next day the blower controller of the car wasn’t working. The dealer offered assurance to fix it but didn’t. A few days later, when he took the car for a wash to the service centre, a worker noted and dent, and rust on the roof.
Sekhon was quick to file an e-complaint on September 29, 2017, but that too didn’t result in any relief, and by now he felt cheated for his new Mahindra Scorpio purchase had cost him Rs 13.77 lakh. For their part, the dealer and Mahindra stated that the complainant had not reported the said defect to the authorised dealer. Further, they stated there was no job card to prove the said allegations.
The district consumer disputes redressal forum upon hearing both parties found the allegations made by the complainant to be supported by way of affidavit. Sekhon further included an an email addressed to the dealer which detailed ‘rust on the roof’. The matter had been pointed out after a gap of 18 days. Photographic evidence further point to what looks to be ‘roughness’ in the paint and dent type appearance.
Chandigarh district consumer disputes redressal forum has directed the manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra based in Mumbai, and its authorized dealer Harbir Automobile Private Limited in Industrial Area of Chandigarh; to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for ‘rust on roof’ of the new Scorpio SUV. The forum stated, “This roughness in the paint on the small portion of the roof cannot be taken that these were not done or say self-inflicted by the complainant to make out a case.”
While the matter was being argued, the dealer and manufacturer offered to get the roof repainted and remove the roughness. Both niggles were unacceptable to the complainant who asked for a vehicle replacement. The forum noted that the Scorpio in question has run for 25k kms, and no further visible defect has come to light.
The rust continues to be the bane of the argument and for this the forum has directed the company and the dealer to pay Sekhon, a Faridkot resident, Rs 50,000 for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice, which caused mental agony. The forum has also directed that Rs 10,000 be paid towards litigation charges.
