Central Mall at Punjagutta asked to pay Rs 15K for charging Rs 10 over bag with logo

The complaint, Venkatasiva Bejjam, a resident of Kavadiguda, had purchased a shirt worth Rs 1,399 and the opposite party had charged Rs 10 for its paper bag that had the logo of the mall. Later, he would come to know that sale of such bags is illegal.

"The store is making customers their advertisement agents by collecting Rs 10 for a carry bag that contains the 'Central' brand logo. The consumers are informed about the price of paper carry bag only at the time of billing or after billing which amounts to unfair trade practice and restrictive trade practices," said the complainant.

The Central Mall has been served notice and the same was returned unclaimed. The opposite party remained to choose absent.

After examining the documents and evidence, the commission observed that, "the opposite party in its email clearly admitted that the 'usage of paper carry bags is detrimental to the environment', and even after knowing this they are continuing the unfair trade practice in order to increase profits by selling carry bags with their brand logo," said the forum.

Also, the commission said that the judgment passed by the District Consumers Disputes Redressal Forum, Chandigarh, in CC 64/2019, dated 9 April, 2019, in which it was held that selling of a carry bag with the brand logo amounts to unfair trade practice.

"In light of all the evidence, we are of the view that the present complaint of the complainant deserves to succeed against the opposite party," said the forum.

The commission directed the Central Mall to refund Rs 10 collected for carry bag with interest of 12% per annum from the date of its purchase.

It asked the mall to pay Rs 10,000 towards compensation to the complainant for causing inconvenience and mental agony and to pay Rs 5,000 towards costs of litigation.

The commission also directed the mall to stop unfair trade practice and provide free carry bags to all customers.