Bill for defunct SIM: Reliance Comm Ltd to pay Rs 25K

Reliance Communications Ltd has been asked by a consumer forum here to give a compensation of Rs 25,000 to a man for issuing a mobile bill for a non-functional SIM.
Holding the telecom company guilty of "deficiency and unfair trade practice," the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, presided by C K Chaturvedi, asked it to pay the money to south Delhi resident Sachin Mirza.
"We have considered the case and find that it is not a case of billing dispute but a case of defective SIM not responded by Opposite Party (company).
"The facts speak for themselves in the case and nothing remains more to show deficiency and improper service of the Opposite Party (OP)," the forum's bench, also comprising its members S R Chaudhary and Ritu Garodia, said.

The forum passed the order after noting claim of complainant and said it was proved by a demand notice of the company for payment, outstanding for use of the SIM, though it had never functioned.
"Holding OP guilty of deficiency and unfair trade practice, we award a compensation of Rs 25,000," it said.

Mirza told the forum that he could not use the SIM, purchased from the company due to failure to receive signals. He claimed that he repeatedly drew the attention of the company since March-April 2013, but it never responded.
Rather, the company demanded payments by bill, though the SIM was not functional, he said.

The company did not file any reply regarding this case.
However, it moved an application for dismissing the complaint for non-maintainability in the light of an apex court judgement.