PASSPORT OFFICER Vs. RICHA BHANDARI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The respondent/complainant applied online for the issuance of a passport on 30.01.2009. The said passport was received by him on 02.04.2009. The complainant booked a ticket for travelling to London alongwith her husband, paying a fare of Rs. 28,558/-. When she reached Ahmedabad Airport, it was found by the concerned officers that Barcode had not been printed on the passport of the complainant. As a result, the complainant was not allowed to proceed on her journey. Being aggrieved from the defect in the passport supplied to her, the complainant approached the concerned District Forum by way of a complaint impleading the Passport Officer as the sole opposite party in the said complaint.

(2.) The complaint was resisted by the respondent primarily on the ground that the complainant was not a consumer and the services rendered by him did not fall within the definition of service under the Consumer Protection Act. However, on merits, the reply filed by the respondent did not contain any explanation for the defect in the passport issued to the complainant.

(3.) The District Forum, vide its order dated 01.05.2012, directed the petitioner to pay a sum of Rs. 82,800/- to the complainant alongwith interest @ 9% per annum. A sum of Rs. 1 lac was awarded to her as compensation for the mental agony alongwith Rs. 5,000/- towards legal expenses.