An Ahmedabad consumer court fined a tailor Rs 7,000 for failing to deliver a blouse on time for a family wedding. The court held that the delay caused mental distress and amounted to a clear deficiency in service.
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AHMEDABAD: In a recent judgment underscoring consumer rights and accountability in service delivery, the Ahmedabad (Additional) Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a tailor to pay ₹7,000 to a customer for a deficiency in service and causing mental distress. The order came after the tailor failed to deliver a blouse on the agreed date, preventing the complainant from wearing her planned attire for a family wedding.
Case Background
The complainant, a woman from Ahmedabad, was preparing to attend a family wedding scheduled for December 24, 2024. As part of her preparations, she had purchased sarees and entrusted a local tailor with stitching a traditional blouse, paying an advance of ₹4,395 for the service.
According to the complaint, when she visited the tailor ten days before the wedding, the blouse was still unfinished. Despite repeated assurances from the tailor that it would be ready before the event, the garment was never delivered. Left without the intended blouse, the woman was forced to wear another outfit, which she stated caused significant emotional distress and disappointment.
Court Proceedings
After the incident, the woman filed a complaint with the Ahmedabad (Additional) Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, alleging negligence and deficiency in service. A legal notice was issued to the tailor, but he failed to appear for the hearing. The commission then proceeded ex parte (in his absence) based on the evidence submitted by the complainant.
Commission’s Findings and Order
Upon review, the consumer commission concluded that the tailor’s failure to deliver the blouse on time, despite receiving an advance payment, amounted to a deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act.
The commission further observed that the lapse caused mental anguish and harassment, as the complainant could not wear her chosen saree for the important family function.
In its final order, the commission directed the tailor to:
- Refund the advance amount of ₹4,395 with 7% annual interest from the date of payment.
- Pay additional compensation for mental harassment and inconvenience.
- Reimburse litigation expenses incurred by the complainant.
The total amount payable was fixed at ₹7,000.