Aakash Tablet UbiSlate to pay businessman over `6k for delay
Vijay Chavan
Posted On Monday, March 17, 2014 at 10:19:52 AM
The self-proclaimed ‘world’s cheapest tablet’, originally made for an educational scheme run by the Centre as part of its effort to put ultra-low cost tablets — the Aakash series — in universities and colleges, was launched in 2011, but never quite lived up to its hype, or so it seems.
The Aakash Tablet UbiSlate took a beating last week after the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed it to pay Rs 6,699 to a city-based businessman for not delivering a tablet months after he made online payment in a first such city case.
Aakash is first in a series of Android-based tablet computers promoted by Government of India as part of an initiative to link 25,000 colleges and 400 universities in an e-learning programme.
The order was issued by president of Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum V P Utpat and member Geeta S Ghatge after a complaint was filed by Nuruddin Kapadwala, a resident of Kondhwa, against Suneet Singh Suli, CEO of Aakash Tablet UbiSlate Datawind, based in Amritsar, last June for deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
On February 12, 2013, Kapadwala booked an Aakash Ubislate 7Ci Tablet online after paying Rs 4,199. However, on not receiving the product within a week, he exchanged mails with UbiSlate Datawind but they did not deliver the product even after four months. Kapadwala filed a consumer complaint for a reimbursement of Rs, 4,199, Rs 5,000 for legal charges and a compensation of Rs 10,000.
Filing preliminary objections and raising the issue of jurisdiction, Suli said that “the Pune forum has no territorial jurisdiction to entertain the complaint as the office is in Amritsar”, and asked for dismissal of the complaint.
Kapadwala filed a rejoinder to Suli’s response as per Section 11(2) (c) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. He claimed that since it was an e-transaction through his ICICI Bank account, and cause of action arose in Pune, the forum has jurisdiction to entertain the complaint.
After looking at evidence produced before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the Forum observed that UbiSlate Datawind has committed deficiency in service.
“The company should pay Kapadwala Rs 4,199. He is entitled to the reimbursement and cost of legal proceeding to the tune of Rs 500, and a compensation of Rs 2,000 for mental and physical agony. Rs 6,699 should be paid within six weeks from the date of receipt of this order, or the company will have to pay the amount with 9 per cent monthly interest,” read the order.
The Aakash Tablet UbiSlate took a beating last week after the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed it to pay Rs 6,699 to a city-based businessman for not delivering a tablet months after he made online payment in a first such city case.
Aakash is first in a series of Android-based tablet computers promoted by Government of India as part of an initiative to link 25,000 colleges and 400 universities in an e-learning programme.
The order was issued by president of Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum V P Utpat and member Geeta S Ghatge after a complaint was filed by Nuruddin Kapadwala, a resident of Kondhwa, against Suneet Singh Suli, CEO of Aakash Tablet UbiSlate Datawind, based in Amritsar, last June for deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
On February 12, 2013, Kapadwala booked an Aakash Ubislate 7Ci Tablet online after paying Rs 4,199. However, on not receiving the product within a week, he exchanged mails with UbiSlate Datawind but they did not deliver the product even after four months. Kapadwala filed a consumer complaint for a reimbursement of Rs, 4,199, Rs 5,000 for legal charges and a compensation of Rs 10,000.
Filing preliminary objections and raising the issue of jurisdiction, Suli said that “the Pune forum has no territorial jurisdiction to entertain the complaint as the office is in Amritsar”, and asked for dismissal of the complaint.
Kapadwala filed a rejoinder to Suli’s response as per Section 11(2) (c) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. He claimed that since it was an e-transaction through his ICICI Bank account, and cause of action arose in Pune, the forum has jurisdiction to entertain the complaint.
After looking at evidence produced before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the Forum observed that UbiSlate Datawind has committed deficiency in service.
“The company should pay Kapadwala Rs 4,199. He is entitled to the reimbursement and cost of legal proceeding to the tune of Rs 500, and a compensation of Rs 2,000 for mental and physical agony. Rs 6,699 should be paid within six weeks from the date of receipt of this order, or the company will have to pay the amount with 9 per cent monthly interest,” read the order.
