Boutique Fined for Failing to Deliver Ordered Blouse

A consumer court in Dharashiv, Maharashtra, fined a boutique owner Rs 15,000 for not delivering one of two blouses ordered by Swati Kasture. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered the boutique to provide the second blouse free within 15 days. A follow-up was ignored, leading to legal action.

A consumer court in Dharashiv district of Maharashtra has imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on the owner of a local boutique for failing to make delivery of one of the two blouses that a woman had ordered last year.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission also directed the boutique owner to give the second blouse free of cost to the complainant within 15 days of the issuance of the order. The order was passed by Forum's president Kishor Wadne and member Vaishali Borade on July 15.

As per the case details, a woman named Swati Kasture had placed an order for two blouses at Maitrin Boutique in Dharashiv on January 13, 2023. Out of the total bill of Rs 6,300, the woman made an advance payment of Rs 3,000. The blouses were expected to be delivered on January 25, 2023. However, the boutique only delivered one of the two garments on the agreed date.

According to the order, the boutique owner later committed to deliver the second blouse on February 1, 2023. Despite continuous follow-up through phone and social media by the complainant, the boutique's director Neha Sant did not deliver the second blouse and also failed to provide satisfactory reasons for the delay. Kasture then sent a legal notice through her advocate on April 28, 2023, which the boutique owner refused to accept. Consequently, Kasture moved the district consumer commission and filed a complaint.

The boutique owner was not present for a hearing of the matter in the district consumer forum. The commission then issued an order asking Sant to pay Rs 15,000 toward mental and physical harassment and legal expenses. It also directed the boutique to stitch the second blouse as ordered by the complainant within 15 days of the issuance of the order.

(With inputs from agencies.)