Yadadri Kalyana Mandapam fined Rs 15,000 for not refunding booking amount

HYDERABAD: Yadadri Kalyana Mandapam was ordered by Telangana Consumer Court to refund the booking amount of Rs 65,000 and was fined Rs 10,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 as the cost of the complainant. The Kalyana Mandapam had failed to refund the booking amount after the complainant had cancelled his registration.

Karthik Allenkala, the complainant, claimed that he had booked Yadadri Kalyana Mandapam for his sister's marriage. He further said that the agreed amount for registration was Rs 1,25,000, of which he had paid Rs 65,000. The complainant had later cancelled the registration, as the wedding was postponed, and intimated the same to the Mandapam authorities. He claimed that though they assured to refund of the booking amount, the amount was not refunded even after five months. As there was no proper response from the concerned authorities, the complainant registered a case seeking justice.

Yadadri Kalyana Mandapam, denying the allegations, said the Kalyana Mandapam owned by the temple is licensed out to bidders through tenders or public auctions. They further added that the licensee (the successful bidder) was under obligation to refund the amount. They claimed that they are not concerned with the financial arrangement between the complainant and the bidder and hence they cannot be blamed or held responsible on behalf of an independent contractor/bidder.

The court said that the complainant had intimated the cancellation of the function hall well in advance and hence not refunding the booking amount is a deficiency of service and unfair trade practice. Therefore, the court, besides imposing a fine also ordered the Kalyana Mandapam to refund the amount.