Charged Rs 10 extra for beer; Beverages Depot manager in Pathanamthitta fined ₹25,010

Pathanamthitta: The Pathanamthitta Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has taken action against the manager of Kerala State Beverages Corporation's Perunad depot for charging more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) printed on a liquor bottle. The commission ordered the manager to pay the complainant ₹25,010, including damages and litigation costs.

The verdict was delivered by a forum comprising Commission President Babychan Vechoochira and member Nishad Thankappan on a petition filed by AT Akash of Mambara, Perunad, Ranni.

The incident occurred when the complainant purchased a 650 ml beer bottle from the Beverages outlet at Perunad. The MRP printed on the bottle was ₹170, but the outlet billed him ₹180. When Akash questioned the excess ₹10 charged, the staff reportedly told him that they could only collect the amount shown as MRP in the computer system and asked him to file a complaint if he was dissatisfied.

The Beverages Corporation argued that a government order permitted the sale of old stock carrying the previous MRP at revised prices. However, the commission found this government directive to be unlawful.

The commission observed that charging a higher price through new labels while selling old stock amounts to an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act. It noted that consumers cannot be expected to verify government orders at the time of purchase and that the MRP printed on the bottle is the final price payable.

The order stated that the actions of the opposite party clearly constituted an unfair trade practice. The commission directed the payment of ₹10 collected in excess, ₹15,000 as compensation, and ₹10,000 towards litigation costs, totaling ₹25,010. It also instructed that the amount be paid to the complainant within the stipulated time.