BSNL asked to pay Rs 10,000 compensation to consumer

Jammu, Mar 1 (UNI) A Divisional Consumer Protection Forum has directed telecom giant Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to pay Rs 10,000 on account of ''deficiency of services and unfair trade practice'' to a telephone user here, official sources said today.

A three-member bench headed by District and Session Judge Khursheed Ahmed Lone directed BSNL to pay the compensation to the complainant, Mr G N Kanth, for causing him mental agoiny and inconvenience.

An amount of Rs 2,000 has also been awarded as cost of litigation in favour of the complainant, the sources said.

The Divisional Consumer Forum also held that the payment of bill though cheque sent by the post in the name of Accounts Officer, BSNL, is the available mode of payment under the instructions issued by the telecom company itself.

BSNL has also been directed to restore the telephone connection of complainant forthwith, the sources added.

UNI