Does the Consumer Protection Act apply to agencies that offer Vaastu consultation on a commercial basis? Mahadev Dudihal, an employee with a legal firm in Vijayapura in north Karnataka, believes that it does.
About two years ago, he contacted a Vaastu agency for advice after watching its advertisement on a news channel. After taking ₹11,600 from him as consultation fee, the agency advised him to remodel his house to a Vaastu-compliant design to “ward off the evil forces that were preventing the wedding of his daughters.” He was promised that “positive changes” would occur in three to eight months.
Mr. Dudihal says he spent around ₹5 lakh to renovate his house as per Vaastu requirements. But when his three daughters continued to remain unmarried even after a year, he decided to approach the Vijayapura District Consumer Forum for redress. He filed a case of unfair trade practices and deficiency of service under the Consumer Protection Act. When the district forum held that the issue did not fall under its purview, he approached the State consumer forum, where the case is now pending. He is also contemplating filing a police case against the agency for cheating.
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According to Pradeep Anantapur, Mr. Dudihal’s advocate, any person or company doing business for a commercial purpose is liable for punishment if he provides shoddy service or product. “The Vaastu agencies should also be held responsible for deficiency in service,” he said.