Maruti to pay Rs. 3.85 lakh for selling defective car

Maruti Udyog, the country’s largest carmaker, has been directed by a consumer forum in New Delhi to pay Rs 3.85 lakh as compensation to a customer for selling her a defective Wagon R.

The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum observed that the car bought by the complainant in 2006 for Rs 3.88 lakh was suffering from ‘some manufacturing defect’ and could not be repaired despite the efforts made by Maruti.

The forum, presided over by CK Chaturvedi, relying upon the documents and other material placed before it, said, “It is established that the car could not be repaired despite efforts made by opposite party (Maruti) and defects appeared again and again, leading to total loss of satisfaction to the purchaser.

"We are of the view that the car has some manufacturing defect in its gear system or in its engine operation.

“In view of the facts that now it is seven years since the car was purchased, it will not be possible to replace the car and we direct Maruti to pay a compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh to complainant for the defective car. We allow Rs 35,000 as litigation expenses.”

Maruti did not dispute that the car was brought in for repairs more than 10 times in the first one-and-a-half year of its purchase. However, it contended that vehicles made by it undergo all quality control checks as well as pre-delivery inspection.

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Nielson ranks India 2nd in consumer confidence in fourth quarter in 2013

A global survey for the last quarter of 2013 by Nielson Co. has ranked India second in consumer confidence after Indonesia.

According to a Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions for quarter 2013, consumer confidence points for India in the Q4 were at 115 compared with 112 in the previous quarter. “India is at second place amongst countries measured in the survey. Indonesia, indexed at 124, leads the index globally,” states survey, according to media.

The survey also suggested that at least 62% of online respondents indicated that India was facing an economic crisis, down 14 per cent points from last quarter (76%).

Expressing his views on the survey, Nielsen India Pvt Ltd president Piyush Mathur told media, “The last quarter of 2013 sees optimism for consumers influenced by relative economic stability and a reduction in negative news across economic parameters.”

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India needs sustained increase in policy rates: IMF

The global financial institution International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) needs to continue to increase its policy interest rate considering the rate of inflation.

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, who became the head of RBI in September in 2013, has increased the repo rate by 75 basis points to 8 percent. An ex-IMF Chief Economist, Mr Rajan has made consumer price index (CPI) the key inflation indicator.

According to IMF report, “The ingrained nature of inflation and inflation expectations mean that reducing inflation — even over a protracted horizon — will require significant increases in policy rates, which will weigh on growth,” reported media.

Report adds, “Should high inflation expectations persist and inflation remain sticky, a more front-loaded path of interest rate increases may be needed.”

Earlier, the market witnessed an increase of 25 basis points on January, 28. While, Mr. Rajan, in his last policy analysis, said further increase of rates will not be necessary if the inflation trail remained submissive.  Also, the consumer price index recorded two-year low in January at 8.79 percent as food prices calmed but were still high than the wholesale price index of 5.5 percent.  

Interestingly, IMF foresees India’s consumer index to stay close to double digit figures in next year. IMF also stresses more on consumer prices for making policy decisions.  

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Delhi’s Connaught Place is the world’s 8th expensive office location: Report

New Delhi’s Connaught Place has become the world’s eighth most expensive office location, according to a report by property consultant Cushman & Wakefield.

Connaught Place, which is situated at the central Delhi, was placed at 4^th last year. The report suggests that it sees no changes in the rental value. “Despite a stronger performance against most of the top markets, Connaught Place fell from fourth position to eighth due to an appreciation in both the US dollar and euro against the Indian rupee in 2013; this caused a shift in New Delhi’s position in terms of global occupancy costs when measured on a dollar or euro basis,” consultant was quoted by media as saying.

Cushman & Wakefield also suggest that the rental in Connaught Place remains stable due to the limited activities in the area. However, it continues to be the first preference to various businesses due to its proximity to government institutions, business centers, and retail outlets.

“Weakening of the Indian rupee against the dollar/euro has office markets in India favourable for international occupiers, whilst domestic occupiers have not seen any significant change in rental values,” Cushman & Wakefiled’s executive managing director South Asia Sanjay Dutt told media.

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Indian beer market to see more new brands

In a move to target Indian consumers, CMJ Breweries have collaborated with Konig Ludwg International to introduce German beer Kaltenberg in the Indian market.

According to licensing agreement between CMJ Breweries and Koning Ludiwg, CMJ breweries will make and distribute the German brand across India. Kaltenberg Royal Lager will be the first beer to be introduced through this joint collaboration and will be followed by Kaltenberg Royal Strong in next coming months.

Interestingly, the German brand, which has been tagged at Rs 125-a-pint, will be positioned higher than other premium beer brands and lower than imported beer brands like Hoegaarden and Corona, which costs around Rs 250. CMJ group will brew Kaltenberg at its brewery branch in Meghalaya.

“Pricing was done keeping in mind the huge gap between the two segments. As we have to import all raw materials to maintain the quality, we will have to sell it at a low profitability. It is not a volume game and we are not looking at profits at the moment. For us, to have Kaltenberg here in India is the most important thing,” CMJ Group chairman Rohit Jain was quoted by media as saying.

The group is set to market the German beer in India and plans to sell it across the nation in next five months. Initially, it is set to launch 200 outlets in Mumbai alone, but later it is planning to sell it at 80-90 retail centers in every city. Moreover, the German brand will be available in 1,000 outlets in few months in Maharashtra, Goa, Daman, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. 

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Life threatening pesticides found in vegetables and fruits in Delhi, shows Consumer Voice report to High Court

Vegetable and fruits which are sold across the Delhi city contains dangerous pesticides which can lead to serious neurological problems and kidney damage, skin disease and even cancer., reported p[resend before Delhi High court reads.

Report claims that pesticides element such as chlordane, endrin, heptachlor, ethyl and parathion are used in many vegetables and they have tendency to cause serious health ailments.

Showing concerns over the report, the high court issues notices to Central and Delhi government saying that the issue needs a “pan-India” efforts.

“India is not a country to allow such type of chemicals to be used in vegetables and fruits. Central government has to make the effort. It has to be a pan-India effort,” Bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai ENdlaw was quoted by media as saying.

The High Court had acted suo moto on a report NGO Consumer Voice, which had done pesticides test on 35 varieties of vegetables and fruits purchased from Delhi market, and found toxins beyond permissible limit.

The bench issues notices to department of agriculture and co-operation, department of agriculture research and education, department of chemicals and petro-chemicals, department of bio-technology, ministry of environment and forest, food safety and standard authority and department of food safety. The next hearing is due on March 5, 2014.

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दिल्ली : एक कॉल पर घर तक पहुंचेगा ऑटो

अब तक लोगों को घर से कहीं जाने के लिए सिर्फ टैक्सी की सुविधा ही उपलब्ध थी, लेकिन अब लोगों को एक कॉल पर घर से गंतव्य तक जाने के लिए ऑटो की सुविधा भी मिलेगी। इसे दिल्लीवासी जी-ऑटो के नाम से जानेंगे। दिल्ली में इस नई परिवहन सुविधा की शुरुआत पूर्वी दिल्ली नगर निगम की ओर से निर्मल फाउंडेशन नामक संस्था के साथ मिलकर किया जा रहा है। इसके लिए पूर्वी दिल्ली निगम ने संस्था के साथ करार किया है। इस सेवा की शुरुआत शनिवार से होगी।

डायल ऑटो सर्विस

घर पर ऑटो बुलाने या अग्रिम बुकिंग कराने के लिए आपको जी ऑटो सर्विस के कॉल सेंटर में फोन करना होगा। दिए गए समय में ऑटो आपके पास हाजिर हो जाएगा और गंतव्य तक छोड़ देगा। कॉल सेंटर के जरिये यात्री एक दिन पहले भी बुकिंग करवा सकते हैं। इससे लोगों को घर से दूर ऑटो पकड़ने या कहीं चौक-चौराहे पर इंतजार करने के झंझट से मुक्ति मिल जाएगी। शुरुआत में कॉल सेंटर की सुविधा सुबह 6 बजे से रात के 12 बजे तक मिलेगी। बाद में इसे 24 घंटे का किया जाएगा।

115 रुपये अतिरिक्त लगेंगे

ऑटो का किराया तो दिल्ली सरकार की ओर से तय भाड़े के अनुसार लगेगा। सभी ऑटो मीटर से चलेंगे। इस सेवा के लिए लोगों को 15 रुपये अतिरिक्त चुकाने पड़ेंगे। चूंकि पूर्वी दिल्ली नगर निगम की ओर से समझौते के तहत इस सेवा की शुरुआत की जा रही है। इस वजह से निगमकर्मियों व पार्षदों को 15 रुपये अतिरिक्त नहीं लगेंगे।

ऑटो चालकों को भी मिलेगी सुविधा

संस्था के जुड़ने वाले ऑटो चालकों का पूरा ब्योरा संस्था के पास रहेगा, जिससे यात्री इस सेवा के माध्यम से सुरक्षित यात्र कर सकते हैं। इसके अलावा संस्था से जुड़ने वाले ऑटो चालकों का एक लाख रुपये का दुर्घटना बीमा करवाया जाएगा। इसके अलावा 25 हजार रुपये का स्वास्थ्य बीमा भी करवाया जाएगा।

निगम को भी होगी आय

जी-ऑटो के पीछे लगने वाले विज्ञापनों के माध्यम से जहां कंपनी को आय होगी, वहीं इससे निगम की आय होगी।

1150 ऑटो जुड़े हैं सेवा से

शुरुआत में इस सेवा से 150 ऑटो जुड़े हैं। भविष्य में इस सेवा से काफी संख्या में ऑटो चालकों के जुड़ने की संभावना है। गुजरात में सफल रही है यह सेवा निर्मल फाउंडेशन ने इस सेवा की शुरुआत गुजरात में की थी। वहां इस सेवा से 10 हजार ऑटो जुड़े हैं। यह सेवा वहां सफलतापूर्वक चल रही है। इससे दिल्ली में भी इस सेवा के सफल होने की संभावना व्यक्त की जा रही है।

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COO Consumer Voice, Ashim Sanyal, said he had raised the issue of monitoring ads

If the skin whitening cream isn’t as phenomenal as advertised or the hair oil not producing a lush mop as promised, you may soon be able to claim compensation not only from the advertisers, but from the celebrities endorsing the product. 

    

The Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC), under the chairmanship of minister K V Thomas, on Monday decided to set up a sub-committee to suggest strategies to deal with such advertisers. Among the concerns raised was peddling of products by celebrities. 
    

“About 50% of the daylong conference was spent addressing…the huge impact of misleading advertisements, particularly food items, hair oil and health products,” said a CCPC member who attended the meeting in Kochi. “Even the celebrities must pay compensation in case there is a complaint,” said Joseph Victor, a CCPC member.  

STAR VALUE 
Central Consumer Protection Council sets up sub-committee to suggest ways to tackle advertisers making false claims 
Council says celebrities endorsing products must pay compensation as well 
in case of complaint 
Sub-committee likely to be appointed in a week Panel mulls measures to monitor ad claims 

What seems to have moved the consumer affairs ministry is a direction from the MP high court to set up an ad monitoring panel as recommended by the Vibha Bhargava Commission. “An ad monitoring committee with proper budgetary support from the Centre may be set up to monitor the advertisements on regular basis… the committee will have the powers to (take) corrective actions and (impose) compensation,” the CCPC said. 

    

Sources said that the decision was taken unanimously by CCPC, which has members from central and state governments, besides representatives from consumer organizations and academicians. The sub-committee may be formed in less than a week and could submit its recommendations by February-end, sources said. 
    

Some members told TOI the issue of southern superstar Mamootty endorsing products was discussed. “We have similar problems across the country. We 
have Shahrukh Khan or some other Hindi film star endorsing consumer items and they get huge payment for doing so. A misleading ads featuring such famous faces shown on TV even for aday serves the purpose of advertisers. We discussed how suo motu action can be taken against ads which have been withdrawn. Even the celebrities must pay compensation in case there is a complaint,” said Joseph Victor, a CCPC member. 
    

COO Consumer Voice, Ashim Sanyal, said he had raised the issue of monitoring ads, which are in huge numbers and across different modes and media. “We need to plan the mechanism for monitoring. The sub-committee will come out with directions and provisions to deal with the menace,” he added. Lok Sabha MP Charles Dias, who also attended the meeting, told TOI that concerns were raised on manufacturers’ ad spend, which is passed on to buyers. “Most of us felt that there should some sort of monitoring on how much is being spent on advertisements,” he said. 

Courtesy: TOI

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