This Petition has been filed by M/s S.S. Medical Systems in challenge to the Order of the State Commission, invoking the revisional jurisdiction of this Commission under Section 21(1)(b) of The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 ('Act 1986').

The sole Respondent is Dr. (Smt.) Vineeta Kochar.

M/s Hewlett Packard India Limited has not been made a Respondent.

2. Instead of arguing the case, learned Counsel for the Petitioner is once again seeking adjournment.

3. Ordinarily, this Commission does not decline such requests and prefers to proceed with the case taking the assistance of the learned Counsel(s) so that the parties may be heard to their full through their legal representatives and we may also get the advantage of their competent assistance. But, at times, there are circumstances which dissuade us to grant such request, and we are constrained to observe that the present matter falls in the said category. The subject matter of this Petition relates to a dispute which emanates from a purchase deal that took place in the year 1998. The District Commission decided the matter in 2003. The matter was appealed against in the State Commission, which passed its concurring verdict in 2008. Thereafter, the present Revision Petition has been filed in 2008. Now, we are running in 2021. The relief granted to the consumer almost two decades back has as yet not reached him, and the parties are still awaiting our final verdict.

It does not need any elaboration that justice delayed is sometimes justice denied and procrastinating the matter to such disproportionately prolix period of time may not only frustrate the basic avid object of the law but may also eventually defeat the ends of justice. Expeditious disposal of such disputes, as are the subject matter of this Commission, has been the arch object behind the enactment of The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (now The Consumer Protection Act, 2019), but what is palpably apparent on the face of the record, in this case, is that this matter has been allowed to linger on for such an inordinately drawn out period of time which we find hard to vindicate and may go to pose a question on the justifiability of the institutional existence itself of which we are a part. The cause of justice ought not be allowed to get lost beyond redemption in the quagmire of systemic delays.

4. We, therefore, feel disinclined to delay this matter any further, and, politely declining the request for adjournment, would prefer to wade through the record ourselves and decide the same on merit at least now.

5. We have perused the entire material on record, including inter alia the Order dated 07.08.2003 of the District Commission, the impugned Order dated 08.07.2008 of the State Commission and the Petition.

6. The brief facts of the case, as evinced from the material on record, are that the Complainant contracted with the Petitioner, M/s S.S. Medical Systems, the authorised dealer of M/s Hewlett Packard India Limited, to purchase a machine (Color Doppler System Model Sono S 1000 Hewitt Packard), and paid in all Rs. 9,00,000/-. The Petitioner gave an old

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second-hand Machine (Diagnostic Spectar Machine). The same was faulty and unusable, its value and quality was poor. After repeated complaints by the Complainant, the Petitioner took back the first Machine and provided another old Machine (Model G.E. 6800). The same was also faulty and unusable. An assurance was made by the Petitioner that the Complainant would be given a new Machine, as contracted for, within a short span of time. The new Machine, however, was never supplied.

7. A perusal of the State Commission's Order of 08.07.2008 shows that it has correctly dealt with all the discursive issues raised by M/s S. S. Medical Systems in its Appeal.

8. In respect of the objection re limitation, the State Commission has rightly determined that the Complaint is within limitation ("- - - Obviously the present complaint is within the period of limitation as provided under Section 24(A) of the Act. Thus, the argument that the complaint was barred by limitation is a self frustrating argument and in view of the acknowledgement it has become self condemned. Over and above, a period of two years is to be computed from the date of accrual of the cause of action. In the instant case, initially supplied machine was having inherent defects and when complained it was replaced but the machine which was supplied by way of the replacement was also obsolete and in this connection different correspondences were made by the complainant which were entertained and even in this connection sincere efforts were made by the complainant to make known the grievances through the telephonic conversation which were admittedly promised to have been corrected. Thus, it was a case of continuing cause of action as, at no point of time, it was given to understand to the complainant that the machines sold and supplied on two occasions were not defective and were not suffering from manufacturing defects and were not supplied contrary to the terms and conditions of the agreement.- - -").

We may observe that Section 24A of the Act 1986 provides that a Complaint should be filed within two years from the date on which the cause of action arose. In the instant case, when the new Machine (Color Doppler System Model Sono S 1000 Hewitt Packard), which was contracted for, was never supplied, and one after another two old faulty unusable Machines of lesser value and quality were provided in the stead, it was a continuing cause of action. Moreover, Section 24A enables the District Commission to condone the delay on showing sufficient cause for not filing the Complaint within the stipulated two year period. The facts of this case are such that, in the interest of justice, to prevent miscarriage of justice, it requires adjudication on merit, and a short delay, if any, should be ordinarily condoned in the normal wont. Looking at it in any way, the objection re limitation fails.

9. In respect of another objection that the transaction was for commercial purposes and as such the Complainant was not a 'consumer' under the Act 1986, the State Commission has rightly determined that the transaction was not for commercial purposes ("- - - A pathologist in an order to carry on his profession is supposed to be particularly equipped with the latest machine better suited to give the better results for the upkeep of the health and welfare of the society. Right to life as enshrined in Article 21 presupposes a right to live with decency and better health. For ensuring the better health and to be away from the disease, the treatment can better be given only on the basis of the upto date report of the pathologist. Obviously, this was the sole purpose when the complainant entered with the deal of a purchase with the opposite parties of a Hewlett Packard (Make) Color Doppler System Model Sonos -1000. A pathologist has every right to engage the staff suitably meant for assisting him in the smooth function of

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giving better pathology reports and as such engagement of a Radiologist for the operation of the machine cannot be stretched to mean that such engagement even if so made by the complainant would mean engagement of the Radiologist for the use of the machine for a commercial purpose.- - -")

We may observe that, in the facts of the case, within the meaning of 'consumer' under Section 2(1)(d)(i) (read with the Explanation thereto), the Complainant was a 'consumer' as she bought the goods for a consideration partly paid and partly promised and she fell in the exception provided for in the Explanation, that 'commercial purpose' does not include use of goods bought and used exclusively for earning livelihood by means of self employment.

10. In respect of the proposition that the Order of the District Commission was passed ex parte against it, the State Commission has rightly determined that reasonable and sufficient opportunity has been granted. ("- - - There is no document available on the record, in the instant case, to justify a conclusion that the registered notices sent at the address of the appellants were not served and consequently the notices were returned back. We accordingly find that the argument of ex parte proceedings being done without notice to the appellants is an argument which is not acceptable. More so at the appellate stage we have exhaustively heard the learned Counsel for the parties and considered their arguments on merit respectively. Thus, on that score, too, the contrary argument does not deserve to be accepted as a reasonable opportunity of hearing has been granted.- - -")

We may observe that before the District Commission, the Petitioner was served by registered post, and, in any case, it was afforded the opportunity to profess its case in its Appeal before the State Commission. There is no reason on fact or law to in any way consider remanding the case to the District Commission on the proposition that the Order of the District Commission was passed ex parte.

11. In respect of the merits of the case, sifting through the entire evidence the State Commission has returned clear and categorical findings of 'deficiency' as well as 'defect' within the meanings of Section 2(1)(g) and 2(1)(f) of the Act 1986. ("- - - The bonafide of the complainant is very clear wherein throughout it was given to understand to the appellants that she was ready to deliver back the supply of the old machine which was lying unused with her subject to the replacement by the new machine of the standard for the contract was entered into or the refund of the money. Neither of the two contingencies have been opted by the appellants. It is a clear case of deficiency in service as well as a case of a supply of a defective goods respectively within the meaning of Section 2(1)(g) and 2(1)(f) of the Act.- - -"). We may observe that it is well and truly evinced that Rs.9,00,000/- was paid by the Complainant to the Petitioner, an old unusable faulty Machine was first supplied, then it was replaced by another old unusable faulty Machine, the new Machine contracted for was never supplied. The very factum itself that old faulty unusable Machines were supplied, twice, and the new Machine contracted for was never supplied, constitutes both 'deficiency' and 'defect'.

12. Regarding the Award, the District Forum, in allowing the Complaint, ordered that Rs. 8,00,000/- be refunded with interest at the rate of 8% per annum from 02.02.1999 (i.e. the date on which the last payment was made). It also awarded Rs. 500/- as cost of litigation.

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The State Commission modified the Award to the extent that it ordered refund of Rs.9,00,000/- (i.e. the total amount paid by the Complainant to the Petitioner), with interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of institution of the Complaint till realisation, within two months, failing which it will carry interest at the rate of 12% per annum.

We may observe that the State Commission has rectified the self-apparent mistake in computing the principal amount (it was Rs. 9,00,000/- in all) and has made the Award just and equitable by rationalising the rate of interest.

13. To sum up, the State Commission has passed a well-appraised reasoned Order. It has concurred with the findings of the District Commission re 'deficiency' and 'defect'. No palpable error in appreciating the evidence by the two fora below, as may cause to require de novo re-appreciation in revision, is visible. No jurisdictional error, or legal principle ignored, or miscarriage of justice, is visible. The Award made by the State Commission is just and equitable in the facts of the case. Nothing warrants interference by this Commission in the exercise of its revisional jurisdiction.

14. The Petition, being misconceived and bereft of merit, is dismissed. The State Commission's Order of 08.07.2008 is upheld and sustained.

15. The amount, if any, deposited with the State Commission in compliance of this Commission's Order dated 11.08.2008, along with interest, if any, accrued thereon, be forthwith released by the State Commission to the Complainant, Dr. (Smt.) Vineeta Kochar, by 'payee's a/c only' demand draft, as per the due procedure and after the due verification. The balance decretal amount be made good within six weeks from today, failing which the District Commission shall undertake execution, both for 'Enforcement' as well as for 'Penalty', as per the law.

16. The Registry is requested to send a copy each of this Order to all parties in the Complaint, as well as to the State Commission and the District Commission, within three days. The stenographer is requested to upload this Order on the website of this Commission immediately.

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DINESH SINGH

PRESIDING MEMBER

......................J

KARUNA NAND BAJPAYEE

MEMBER

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