Complaint Filed Against Aditya Birla Group in Varanasi Consumer Forum for Charging For Carry Bag

The Aditya Birla Group (Pantaloons Division) has been slapped with a consumer complaint filed against it for indulging in unfair trade practice by charging the consumer for carry bag bearing its advertisement, before the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum at Varanasi.

The Complainant, who is a customer of Pantaloons from Varanasi has objected to the practice of charging the consumers for Paper Carry Bag @5 Rs. In his petition, he contended that he entered the store with an intention to buy apparel only and it was the duty of the Opposite Party to provide the carry bag. Nonetheless, he was forced to purchase a carry bag worth Rs. 5 which bore the Pantaloons logo in green color. Thus, the Opposite Party used him as an advertising agent at his cost and this amounted to unfair trade practice, he submitted.

The Complainant prayed that the company be penalized for unfair trade practice and he be granted a refund of Rs. 5, in addition to compensation for harassment and litigation expenses.

Interestingly, a similar issue was raised in Dinesh Parshad Raturi v. Bata India Ltd., CC/64/2019, before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum at Chandigarh. Therein, the forum held that the practice of charging for paper bags bearing the company's advertisement amounted to unfair trade practice and it was pleased to penalize Bata for charging Rs. 3 for the carry bag.