CHANDIGARH: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed a store in Elante mall to refund Rs 5 charged for a carry bag from a couple and pay Rs 13,000 compensation, out of which Rs 10,000 is to be deposited towards consumer legal aid The forum observed that forcing gullible consumers to pay additionally for paper bags amounted to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.Pankaj Chandgothia and his wife Sangeeta Chandgothia, both residents of Sector 28, purchased a few articles from Lifestyle store. At the billing counter, the cashier handed over the articles without putting them into a carry bag. When asked to provide one, they were told to pay Rs 5. The couple alleged it was nowhere mentioned in the shop that they would charge for a carry bag. Having no option, they paid Rs 5. Alleging deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on part of the store, the couple filed a complaint with the consumer court.On the other hand, the store argued that after the ban on plastic bags, they purchased paper bags, which are costlier than plastic ones, and started providing them to customers on payment. It was asserted that there was no legal obligation on them to provide any bag to carry items. The forum observed “in this backdrop, charges of such things (paper bags) cannot be separately foisted upon consumers and would amount to overcharging”. “…the customers cannot be expected to carry the items in hands,” the forum further stated. The forum directed the store to provide free carry bags to all customers who purchase items, refund Rs 5, pay Rs 1,500 to for harassment and mental agony, Rs 1,500 as litigation expenses and deposit Rs 10,000 in the consumer legal aid account.

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