Odisha shopkeeper who refused to return ₹3 change told to pay ₹25,000 fine

In an ex-parte order, the Sambalpur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum said the shopkeeper will be liable to pay 9% interes

Published on: Sep 27, 2023, 21:02:27 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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BHUBANESWAR: A consumer court in Odisha’s Sambalpur district has ordered the owner of a photocopy shop to pay ₹25,000 in penalty for his failure to return ₹3 in change to a customer.

The shopkeeper was told to return ₹3 and pay ₹25,000 compensation for mental agony and harassment (File)

In an ex-parte order on Tuesday, the Sambalpur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum said the shopkeeper will be liable to pay 9% interest in case of non-payment of the fine beyond 30 days.

“The shopkeeper is directed to refund ₹3 towards excess money received from the complainant towards xerox charges and ₹25,000 as compensation towards mental agony and harassment to the complainant within 30 days from the date of order, failing which the amount will carry with 9% interest per annum till realisation to the complainant,” the order said.

The order was passed on a complaint by a journalist in Sambalpur Prafulla Kumar Dash who said he went to the shop on April 28 for a copy of a document. He said the shopkeeper humiliated him when he demanded that the shopkeeper return the balance amount of ₹3 and remarked that he was behaving like a beggar.

Das approached the district forum and a notice was issued to the shopkeeper.

When he did not appear before the forum even once, the court passed an ex-parte order.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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