Secunderabad: Forum tells Kolors to return Rs 80,000 to client

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad District Consumer Forum—1 has instructed Kolors Healthcare India Pvt Ltd to return Rs 80,000 along with six per cent interest to Ms V. Rukmini, a resident of Secunderabad.

The complainant had enrolled with Kolors Healthcare for a weight reduction programme, on August 14, 2014, and paid Rs 90,000. Simultaneously, the complainant also consulted a gynaecologist citing some health issues and Dr G. Saroja referred her for further tests.

After the tests, Ms Rukmini was admitted to Amrutha Heart Hospital in an emergency condition and the doctors advised her not to go in for any further treatment as she was not a fit candidate to undergo such therapy.

Following the doctors’ advice, Ms Rukmini asked for a refund from Kolors and informed them about her medical condition and the doctors’ advice. Kolors refused to refund the amount and offered her two options: either she can avail the facility within the next 24 months, or the package can be transferred to a relative.

Neither condition was acceptable to Ms Rukmini, and she approached the consumer forum for redressal. Kolors challenged this and questioned whether the consumer forum was eligible to judge the case.

The forum in its judgment held that as both parties are residing within its jurisdiction, and the amount claimed was below Rs 20 lakh, it had got territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction to decide the complaint.

The forum pronounced that Kolors Healthcare had to return the amount of Rs 80,000 along with six per cent interest per annum from 2015 to date. An amount of Rs 10,000 was discounted as the healthcare unit has rendered services by engaging employees for running the business.