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Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) has been asked by the state consumer commission to pay over Rs 45,000 to a customer for selling him a defective motorcycle.
The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's order came while dismissing the two-wheeler manufacturer's appeal against a district forum directing it to refund the motorcycle's cost, amounting to Rs 44,282, along with Rs 1,000 as compensation to complainant Mohd Imran.
The state commission noted in its order that Honda had admitted that within 8-9 months of purchase, there was some problem with the motorcycle and some of its parts were replaced by it as it was covered under the warranty period.
"The appellant/opposite party (Honda) very categorically and specifically admitted there was slight smoke in the motorcycle after 8-9 months of its purchase when an inspection was made by the service engineer and the ring, piston of the vehicle were replaced as it was under the warranty.
"By the admission of the appellant it is clear that the vehicle was defective since beginning. The present loss, in our view, is Rs 45,000 to the respondent who will not be in a position to have the defective vehicle. It is clear case of deficiency in service and we are in complete agreement with the finding of the district forum," a bench comprising members Salma Noor and V K Gupta said.
Honda, in its plea, had contended that there was no manufacturing defect in the motorcycle and the defects alleged by the complainant, Delhi resident Mohd Imran, arose due to his rash and negligent riding.
Imran in his complaint before the district forum had alleged that within 8-9 months of its purchase, white smoke started coming from the motorcycle and despite repairs the problem was not rectified.
