A District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in Chandigarh has recently imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on a marriage band for failing to send a group of musicians for the wedding of a Burail resident while the baraatis kept waiting, Times of India reported.
As per the report, the case reached the forum after Lalit Kumar lodged a complaint, claiming he had booked the band on January 29, 2018, for his wedding on February 18, 2018. The deal was finalized for Rs 14,000, out of which Rs 5,000 was paid in advance. However, despite several calls, the company did not send the band, Lalit said claiming that his family members and guests waited from 5.30pm till 9pm and were forced to arrange another band at 10.30pm at Rs 32,000.
The marriage band, on the other hand, refuted the charges by arguing that the complainant did not remind them for providing the services on the date of the marriage. They claimed that they informed the complainant over phone around 6.30pm that the band would be able to reach by 7pm because of traffic restrictions owing to a VIP visit in the city. However, when the band reached the house around 7.15pm, another group was present, the company said.
The company argued that the complainant had hired another local band from his locality, was not keen on availing their services as the team had reached an hour late, claiming a false story was concocted to cause losses to them.
After hearing both the parties, the forum concluded that it was not convinced with the defence. “They forgot to render the band service committed in advance against a token amount of Rs 5,000. The band admittedly reached late at the residence of the complainant on the special occasion. It was only due to the circumstances that emerged out of the deficient/negligent act of the band that the complainant was forced to engage another band. Due to such negligent act, the complainant and his family members and guests present at the marriage had to undergo mental agony, harassment and humiliation,” the forum said directing the company to pay the fine and also to refund Rs 5,000 to the complainant.
