Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Forum directive to bookseller

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI MAY 25. A city bookseller who charged Rs. 45 in excess has been directed by a consumer forum to pay the buyer a compensation of Rs. 10,000 for causing mental agony and Rs. 1,000 towards costs.

In his complaint to the District Consumer Disputes Redress Forum, Chennai (South), Jothigurusamy of Palakkarai, Tiruchi, submitted that he purchased a book from C.Sitaraman and Co, Royapettah, here in February last for Rs. 405 after getting a 10 per cent discount. On reaching Tiruchi, he found that the price of the book was printed as Rs. 400. To a letter written by the buyer, the seller replied that the price of the book was increased to Rs. 450 from April 1, 2001. But, Mr. Jothigurusamy claimed that the book he purchased was printed in 1996. Hence, the hiked price of the Deccan Publication book would not be applicable.

On the wrapper, the publisher himself had affixed a sticker on the old price showing the new price as Rs. 450 and the complainant was informed about the increase, the seller countered. Also, the publisher sent a circular in March 2001 stating that the price had been increased to Rs. 450 from April. In their order, the forum president, V. Kengasubbiah and the members, V. Sheeba and J. Kadirvel, said even with the naked eye, it could be seen that the price of the copy produced by the complainant was printed as Rs. 400 and there was no sticker. But only on the copy produced by the opposite party, a sticker affixed mentioned the price as Rs. 450.

A perusal of both copies would indicate that the book was reprinted in 1996. Hence the price increase would not be applicable, they held.

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