Kerala marriage bureau fined ₹8,000 after leaving bachelor waiting in vain for 9 years

Kannur (Kerala): A marriage bureau has found itself in the dock after promising a bachelor a bride, but leaving him at the altar of anticipation for nearly a decade. A consumer forum has stood firmly by the disappointed single man, ordering the bureau to pay ₹8,000 in compensation, proving that in this instance, a lack of wedding bells carries a literal cost.

The saga began in 2016 when a 40-year-old man, hoping to finally tie the knot, registered with a marriage bureau operating in Kannur town, paying a fee of ₹3,000. Although he was initially informed about a prospective bride in Kasaragod, the marriage bureau subsequently failed to provide any positive updates or suitable matches.

The delay carried a deeply emotional toll. The man’s father, who was battling cancer, had longed to see his son married. Sadly, he passed away last year without his final wish being fulfilled.

Devastated by the loss of precious time and peace of mind, the complainant approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, demanding the return of his registration fee alongside ₹15,000 in damages. The consumer forum ordered the marriage bureau to return the ₹3,000 registration fee, and additionally pay ₹3,000 for mental agony and ₹2,000 towards litigation costs.

As the representatives of the marriage bureau failed to appear in court, the consumer forum passed the order based on the evidence submitted by the complainant.