In a groundbreaking legal victory, Hariharan Babu AK, a resident of Dr Rajkumar Road in Bengaluru, has secured justice after a distressing experience with a pair of Van Heusen jeans purchased from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) for Rs 4499 on April 16, 2023.
The jeans started losing color rapidly after just five washes, prompting Babu to seek resolution with the showroom. However, ABFRL attributed the fading to the natural tendency of the indigo dye, an explanation that left Babu unsatisfied.
Dissatisfied with the response, Babu took the matter to the 2nd Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Shantinagar, Bengaluru, filing a complaint against what he considered an unfair business practice by ABFRL.
Throughout the litigation, which began in October, Babu presented a compelling case supported by evidence, including photographic proof of the discolored jeans. Remarkably, representatives from ABFRL failed to appear in court despite receiving proper notification.
On February 5, the presiding judge delivered a groundbreaking ruling, emphasizing ABFRL’s failure to provide washing instructions or inform customers about the fabric quality’s durability during the sale. Consequently, the court ordered ABFRL to compensate Babu with Rs 1000 and issue a full refund of Rs 4016 for the defective product.
This legal precedent marks a crucial victory for consumers, underlining the importance of transparency and accountability in the retail industry. It reinforces customers’ rights to expect product quality and sufficient information during the purchasing process, establishing a standard for businesses to uphold these principles.
