STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Bench comprising Justice (Retd) Sunil Hali, President State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) J&K and D.K Kapoor former District and Sessions Judge, Member held Lal Path Labs B.C Road Jammu guilty of unfair trade practices and ordered Managing Director (Partner) Dr. Lal Path Labs, Eskay House 54 Hanuman Road, New Delhi to pay an amount of Rs.35,000 as compensation to aggrieved consumer, a practicing Advocate who was made to pay Rs. 880 and Rs. 1,700 for the same pathological tests done in the Lab on same day. The Commission held that unfair trade practice was performed by the respondents by charging exorbitant rates on their own.
The Commission held that complainant/appellant was admittedly mentally harassed for three years and his reputation was intentionally maligned by stating that he has filed the complaint only with a view to minting money.
The Commission issued guidelines for observation by all pathological and other Labs performing tests in their Labs. The Commission held that unilateral revision of the rates in conducting various medical tests in pathological laboratories needs to be guided by some regulations supported by the statute. “The laboratories cannot function in a manner which has direct bearing on public at large. In case the rules are in force, they have to be implemented strictly and every pathological laboratory is directed to notify the list on the notice board at some conspicuous place in the premises, on regular occasions”, the Commission observed.
