SPECTRUM COLOUR LAB Vs. KODAK INDIA (P) LTD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complainant purchased a Kodak Mini Lab System 5000 E, along with Kodak R30 Film Processor and other accessories from the opposite party on 30-03-2002 to set up a photo color laboratory at Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar. The aforesaid machine came to be installed on 29-04-2002. The case of the complainant is that the machine developed defects and did not function properly. A number of complaints were made by him to the opposite party and the service engineer visited the laboratory of the complainant several times, but the defects in the machine continued to persist. The opposite party extended the warranty which it had given to the complainant, by six months. However, even during the extended warranty period, the machine did not function well. According to the learned counsel for the complainant, thereafter on the suggestion of the opposite party he entered into Annual Maintenance Contract in respect of the aforesaid machine paying Rs.75,000/- in the first year and Rs.50,000/- in the second year after the extended warranty had expired. The complainant wrote to the opposite party seeking replacement of the machine. That having not been done he approached the concerned District Forum by way of a complaint, seeking payment of the cost of machine besides Rs.2,00,000/- towards the loss sustained by him and other expenses and Rs.2,00,000/- towards compensation and Rs.10,000/- towards the cost of litigation.

(2.) The complaint was resisted by the opposite party inter alia on the ground that the machine having been used for five years, the claim for refund of the price of the machine could not be entertained. It was alleged in the reply that there was no deficiency in the services rendered by the opposite party and no warranty had been given for replacement of the machine itself, the warranty being confined to the replacement of defective parts. It was also pointed out in the reply that as a gesture of goodwill the opposite party had not only extended the warranty by six months but also given one tank solution chemical free and eight rolls of five inches paper, to compensate him for the loss suffered by him. It was also claimed in the reply that the problems encountered by the complainant occurred due to mishandling or non-adherence to the maintenance schedule or on account of the frequent power jerks and improper handling of the machine. It was also pointed out in the reply that the opposite party even got the machine checked by experts from China who found the machine to be in perfect condition when they left the premises of the complainant. The copies of the lab technical reports for the period from 19-02-2007 to 20-09-2007 were filed by the opposite party, to prove that the machine was still in operation and had been repaired from time to time, to the satisfaction of the complainant. According to the opposite party there was no inherent manufacturing defect in the machine sold to the complainant.

(3.) Vide its order dated 29-01-2008, the District Forum directed the opposite party to pay a sum of Rs.8,97,840/- to the complainant and take back the machine from him. The complainant was also awarded compensation amounting to Rs.5,000/- and cost of litigation amounting to Rs.2,000/-.