TNNLudhiana: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 on the owner of a hotel in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, for unfair trade practice after the establishment refused to refund the booking amount paid by a Ludhiana resident for the celebration of his daughter’s first birthday.
The commission also directed the resort management to refund Rs 30,000 to complainant Abhi Garg of Pakhowal Road within 30 days of receiving a copy of the order. In case of non-compliance, the amount will carry 8% annual interest from the date of the complaint until actual payment.According to the complaint, the first birthday of the complainant’s daughter was scheduled for July 16, 2023, and to celebrate the occasion with family and relatives, he booked nine rooms at the hotel for 18 persons for one night — July 16 to July 17, 2023. The total price of the booking was Rs 1,12,100, out of which he paid Rs 30,000 as part payment on May 15, 2023.However, just days before the event, heavy rains and cloudbursts struck various regions of Himachal Pradesh, leading to landslides, floods, and widespread damage to roads and infrastructure. The situation was widely reported in news bulletins, and the meteorological department issued yellow alerts advising the public not to travel to the hill state due to unsafe conditions.Faced with severe weather warnings, the complainant cancelled the programme and, on July 12, 2023, informed the hotel about the cancellation. According to him, a hotel employee advised him not to visit Himachal Pradesh during that period and assured him that the Rs 30,000 paid as advance would be adjusted in future bookings.When conditions normalised, the complainant contacted the hotel and requested a booking of three rooms for one night, as the birthday celebration window had passed. He asked that the earlier payment be adjusted against this smaller booking. However, the hotel refused, insisting that he either book six rooms for one night or three rooms for two nights, which would cost more than the amount already paid, thereby requiring him to pay extra.The complainant alleged that he was compelled to accept a costlier package and that his reasonable request to adjust the booking amount was denied. He said repeated requests — including a legal notice issued on Sept 30, 2023 — failed to secure a refund. He claimed to have suffered mental tension and harassment and sought refund of Rs 30,000, Rs 1 lakh compensation, and Rs 22,000 litigation expenses.The opposite party failed to appear before the commission despite service of notice and was proceeded against ex parte.
