In a major jolt to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), New Delhi Consumer Disputes' Redressal Forum has fined Rs. 10 lakh to IRCTC for having sold soft drinks about the maximum retail price. According to the report, the forum observed that IRCTC could not stoop down to the level of private dealers as it was considered a subsidiary of Indian Railways.

Notably, two individuals approached the consumers' forum and the forum, which took up the complaint fined Rs. 10 lakh (five lakh in each case) as punitive compensation. The complainants said that Maaza cold drink, which should cost not more than Rs. 12 as per MRP, was sold to them at Rs. 15. Irked by the extra collection, they approached the consumers' forum.

IRCTC should now deposit Rs. 10 lakhs to State Legal Services. The complainants would, however, receive Rs. 10,000 each as a reward.

The move was welcomed by many people. In fact, this decision even encourages every common person to approach consumers' forum to complain against products sold above MRP at many places across the globe. Once the whip is cracked on private vendors too, they would think twice before asking for anything extra above MRP.

(AW Phani)