Consumer Forum ordered MBMC to pay fine for cancelling license

In a significant ruling, the Thane District Consumer Redressel Forum, has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) for wrongful cancellation of the licence of a milk stall duly issued to an unemployed woman Snehlata Pawar.

Apart from the suffering and legal expenses, ward officer Swapnil Sawant and officials from the anti-encroachment wing will also have to cough up an additional amount of Rs 50,000 for damaging her stall.

 Pawar had been issued a licence in 2007 to operate a milk stall in the Navghar Road, Bhayandar (E), for which she paid a fees of Rs 4,740 to the concerned department. After getting the requisite permissions, Pawar spent Rs 50,000 to put up the stall at the specified location in August 2007. However she was forced to change the location twice by the local ward office and ultimately the anti-encroachment squad confiscated and demolished her stall without following due process of law.

The corporation, however, argued that the case does not fall under the Consumer Act as there was no consumer relation with the woman.

The forum ordered the respondents which includes MBMC ward officer Swapnil Sawant and officials from the license and encroachment wing to pay Rs 1 lakh to Pawar for her suffering and legal expenses, and Rs 50,000 as compensation for damaging her stall.

Source: http://www.afternoondc.in/city-news/mbmc-bullies-fined-for-cancelling-milk-stall-license/article_123856

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/mbmc-fined-rs-1-lakh-for-cancelling-woman-s-milk-stall-licence-114110600423_1.html