Tryst With Rajasthan Shilp Gramodyog

This gem of an experience dates back around 2004-05 when I visited city of Jaipur for a leisure trip. I visited many places in this pink city which is one of the hottest tourist spots in India. The Jaigarh Fort located at the hill-top besides the city is one of the main attractions and I too got attracted towards it and decided to pay a visit there.

After having seen the fort, just before the exit gate there was this handloom showroom bearing the name "Rajasthan Shilp Gramodyog" supposedly a government approved shop. I went around the shop and saw a few things there though I did not have any intention to purchase one. Somehow this silver looking tray-glass set caught my eyes with nice designs drawn over it and I casually enquired about it to one of the salesperson manning the counter. I saw his eyes lit up (there were more than 5 sales persons and I was the sole customer in the showroom) and he started telling me about the item.

"Sir, this is a very nice piece of rare art. You won't find it anywhere else in the world."

I paused for a moment and just for the sake of continuing the discussion, I said, "But what's it made of? Is it durable enough and good to use?"

"Definitely Sir!". He continued further, "It is made of tri-metals - nickle, chromium and silver - and totally non-toxic. You can use it for serving tea, water or any other bewerages."

"How long will it retain its shine?" I asked sarcastically.

"It will remain so forever. We will give you 10 years guarantee and you can get the 75% refund anytime." came the reply with tons of assurance.

"How much's the price?" I asked with the thought that why not to buy this... its a good looking item with cool artistic craft.

"It's only Rs. 1500 and we will give you 10% discount."

"Ok. Let's pack it up." I finally decided to buy it. I paid Rs. 1350 for that and got the stamp of "10 years' 75% refund guarantee" on the bill.

I came back to Delhi and got busy with usual chorus. After around a month or so, while looking at a vacant place in my showcase, I recalled the set of tray and 4 glasses. I immediately got the packet from closet and opened it.

And sure enough... I was stunned!

There were no silver-like glittering tray and glasses. All I had in my lap were dark, rusty, rough metal objects. You can gauge the level of anger and frustration I went through but I had no way out. I was in Delhi, the item was bought from a shop located at hill-top besides city of Jaipur - approx. 300 kms. away from Delhi.

I contacted the shop at the phone no. given on the bill, had to spoke few times with them and finally got the promise of refund. Few months later, I happened to visit Jaipur again and I squeezed half day from my hectic shedule and went to the same shop carrying the garbage in my hand hoping to get the refund.

Alas! All I got was an offer to get the 75% refund. It may not look bad but if you think what the hell should he get Rs. 350 for? For few rusted iron pieces which were not even worth a penny, leave alone my expenses I had to make just to return the item.

This was a disgusting experience but it did loads of good to me. It forced me into touch with consumer rights, consumer protection law and consumer forums that were there in our system for quite some time. I should say it was the starting point of my journey of awareness.

I filed a complaint with Jaipur district consumer forum remotely by post. Later on, I got a local lawyer of my acquiantance to handle the court hearing. The Opposite Party made my job easier by not responding to court notices and I got the full refund of Rs. 1350 plus Rs. 2000 towards mental agony and legal expenses within 6 months.

And how can I forget to mention that I got the full refund by money-order even before the court decided on my complaint.

It was my first victory as a consumer and tasted very sweet.

Jaipuria's (fraud) possession letter

Jaipuria has this uncanny knack of surprising even those people who are well versed his tricks and tantrums for years. He threw another surprize to me (and all alottees) in the first week of April but I did not realize this until last week (though I certainly had that unknown fear at the back of my mind all along).

I received this so called "Possession Letter" sometime in first week of April this year.

My first impulsive reaction was that at last my dream is going to come true but as soon as I gathered my senses back I realized that I had visited the site only few weeks back and even the concrete skeleton was still being constructed. How can they offer possession so soon. I decided to have another look at this possession letter. And after that, I could not decide that whether it is "an offer of possession" or just another gimmick.

The very next day I called one of the persons given at the bottom of the letter. I put my concerns and I was politely told that this is an intimation to those who have not paid the additional amount demanded and that I need to do anything about it. I asked for a written reply to same effect and, as always, I was told that they cannot send me written letter or email. This raised my eye brows a bit but then I thought since the building is no where near completion, this letter cannot be an offer of possession.

I noted few points out of this letter which were still hounding me:

1. This letter talks about "initiating the process of handover" but my flat is not even plastered.
2. They have not given any explicit demand in written and only "invitation to talk"
is offered.
3. Why the term "clear all the dues" is used so ambiguously?

I tried to gather information from other sources and talked to Jaipuria people again and again but the ambiguity persisted. Around a month after that I went to that place again and I was aghast at the state and pace of work. Here is what I saw (on May 6th, 2007):


Only 3 (G, H & I) out of 16 blocks were plastered completely... see below:

I still could not believe that the "process of takeover/handover" has been initiated by the builder. Time went by and things got blurred in my mind (I am a person with very short memory). We had few more meetings/demonstrations against Jaipuria in the coming months to hurry up the construction work and give us possession but nothing seemed to work.

Then came the stunner... I saw an email, in this month of August, posted on our group by one of the allottees. It said Jaipuria is refuting the claim of delay-penalty saying that he has already given the possession letters dated 31st March and onus is now on us to deposit the remaining amount and take the possession. I couldn't believe it, so decided to talk to Jaipuria myself. I called them up and asked about delay penalty and I was told that delay penalty upto 31st March will be given to us. I argued that the flats are not ready even today, how can you not give us delay penalty for period till the actual possession is given. But then came the shameless reply - "We have given you letters to begin process of handover on 31st March, now it is up to you to clear your dues and take the possession."

What is that logic? Flats are not ready, still you are asking me to clear my dues (which should have been cleared at the time of possession) and take the possession. You are not giving me apple and still saying that I must eat it!

Folks, this is my painful story. I have now decided to move to Consumer Court to seek justice... but how do you deal with such people? Everybody can't go to court every time... I think prevention is the best way... so friends, Beware Jaipuria!!!