Blue Dart asked to pay Rs.50k to Begumpet customer for not delivering 'Rakhi'

Hyderabad: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Blue Dart to pay a Rs 50,000 compensation to the consumer for not delivering 'Rakhi' on time.

Complainant Ram Prawesh Thakur, a resident of Begumpet, placed a shipment order containing sweet boxes, home food, and Rakhi, given the Raksha Bandhan festival, and paid Rs. 4155 to Blue Dart.

The consignment order was to be delivered to the address in the USA. The goods were not delivered to the address given by the complainant.

According to the complainant, the item was delivered to the addressee in China. He said he had a telephonic conversation with the consignment holder of China, The Chinese addressee informed the complainant that he had redirected the article. Even though the article was redirected, it was not delivered to the complainant's address within time.

The complainant issued a legal notice to Blue Dart seeking an unconditional apology. He also demanded compensation.

Blue Dart contested that the complainant handed over a sealed cover at the time of the booking of the consignment without filling up the column relating to "special instructions". The shipments were interchanged.

Blue Dart has been in regular contact with the complainant's colleague and updated the status of the consignment and there is no negligence on their part, it said. "It is further averred that the contents were consumed by the customer in China and the Blue Dart were unable to retrieve the shipment," added Blue Dart.

After hearing the argument, the commission said that Blue Dart's plea that the consignment was booked without filling up any specific instructions in the column has no significance.

"If that is the case, Blue Dart ought to have returned the shipment before receiving payment for consignment and before issuing a receipt. Once the shipment/consignment is accepted by them, it is duty-bound to deliver the same at its correct address," said the commission.

The commission asked to refund the costs of Rakhi and Sweets amounting to Rs.950 and Rs.4155, consignment charges. The commission also directed Blue Dart to pay Rs.50,000 as compensation, and Rs.10,000 as the cost of the litigation.