Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered studio operator to repay Rs 2.5 lakh with 9 percent interest for deleting photos and videos of wedding of victim.
Sunita Patil, a resident of Barkheda Pathani, Bhopal, got photography and video shooting done at her daughter's wedding and gave contract to Sound Shutter of India Studio. It was decided that high quality photography and video shooting would be done for all the wedding events and also paid Rs 1.80 lakh for the entire work. Another Rs 70000 were charged for providing photos and videos immediately after the marriage. In total, Rs 2.50 were taken by the studio.
Later the studio said that the computer's hard disk had crashed. Because of this all the photos and videos were deleted. Not only this, there was also reluctance in returning the money. The family complained about the matter to the police. Despite this the studio operator did not return the money.
Ultimately a case was registered in the Commission. The decision came after about after two years. In which the Commission has ordered the studio operator to repay Rs 2.5 lakh with 9 percent interest. Besides this fine of of Rs 50000 for mental harrasment and Rs 5000 for other expenses will have to be paid. This decision has recently been given by Chairman Yogesh Dutt Shukla and Member Pratibha Pandey in the Commission.
Sunita Patil filed a case with the Commission on September 30, 2023. that daughter's marriage took place on 15 November 2021. HD photography and video shooting of all the wedding programs was done by Sound Shutter of India. A payment of Rs 1.80 lakh was also made. It was promised to provide photo album, video mixing DVD and pen drive of all the programs within a month.
Since, after marriage, the daughter and son-in-law had to go to the US. For this reason, pen drives for album and video were quickly sought. In return, Rs 70000 more was taken and it was decided to give the pen drive for album and video mixing in 7 days. Thus the total amount paid was Rs 2.50 lakh.
When the demand for pen drive was made after 7 days of marriage, it was postponed by making an excuse. Later demands were also made through Instagram and WhatsApp chat. When repeated inquiries were made, it was reported that the hard disk of the studio computer had crashed. Due to this, photography and video mixing work could not be done. Your Rs 2.50 lakh will be returned. For which bank details were also sent. But, the money was not returned.
The Commission has accepted that it caused mental trauma by not providing the album of photographs and video shooting of the wedding program and the pen drive for mixing. Since the complainant wanted to preserve the memories related to the marriage ceremony through photographs and videos, but due to the negligence and careless act of the opponent, the complainant was deprived of the memories related to the said marriage ceremony, photographs and videos.
Thus the studio did not complete its work properly. After which the opposition will have to pay an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh to the complainant along with interest at the rate of 9 percent per annum, within two months. At the same time, orders were given to pay mental compensation of Rs 50 thousand and other expenses of Rs 5 thousand.
