The National Consumer Commission has strongly disapproved the practice of employing musclemen by finance companies to repossess loaned vehicles terming the use of force as "impermissible.""It is impermissible for the money lender, financier or banker to take possession of the vehicle, for which loan is given, by use of force," the Commission Bench comprising President M B Shah and Member Rajyalaksmi Rao said while dismissing a petition of Citicorp Maruti Finance. The Commission was hearing a revision petition filed by the company against an order passed by a lower consumer body, which had slapped on it a punitive damage of Rs 50,000 apart from a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh to the complainant. S Vijayalaxmi, the complainant, had earlier approached a consumer forum alleging that the finance company had, in May, 2003, forcefully repossessed her car, which was bought on loan from Citicorp and that they later sold it. Taking exception to the forceful seizure of the vehicle, the Commission said: "This unlawful and unethical procedure can be said to be against public policy and also against the protection of public interest."
