BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED Vs. HARNAM SINGH AWASTHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal has been directed by the respondent against order dated 3.2.2005 passed by the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum -II, U.T. Chandigarh, whereby complaint filed by the respondent was accepted and the appellant was directed to pay Rs. 8,000 as compensation for mental and physical harassment, professional and financial loss, besides Rs. 1000 as costs of litigation, within two months from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order.

(2.) BRIEFLY stated the facts are that the respondent Sh. H.S. Awasthi (complainant) is practising Advocate at Chandigarh. He had taken mobile connection No. 9417034586 from the appellant and had been regularly paying his bills. However, all of sudden, on 10.9.2004 his outgoing calls were barred by the appellant. He contacted the appellant on landline telephone and complained that his outgoing calls had been unreasonably blocked but there was no response from it. He also served notice dated 20.9.2004 under certificate of posting, C -2. The appellant contacted him on telephone on 22.9.2004 and gave false assurance that his outgoing calls would be restored as the same had been barred by some fault in the exchange. However, nothing was done. Again on 24.9.2004, he served notice C -3 upon the appellant under certificate of posting, demanding Rs. 1000 per day as compensation for barring his outgoing calls.

(3.) IT was next averred by the respondent that he was a practising Advocate and had to remain in constant touch with his clients for which the mobile phone was handy and since outgoing calls had been unreasonably barred by OP, so he was grievously handicapped in contacting his clients which caused him mental and physical harassment besides professional and financial loss.