Mysore/Mysuru: The District Consumer Forum in Mysuru has asked a chocolate giant to pay a consumer Rs. 2,000 compensation for selling a decomposed chocolate. The complainant had purchased the chocolate at a store and the shopkeeper had refused to return the money despite the chocolate being decomposed. 

In January last year, M.R. Kumaraswamy, a resident of Brindavan Extension First Stage Fifth Main had purchased four chocolates from a General Store on Seventh Main near his residence. He paid the shopkeeper Rs. 160 for each chocolate. 

Returning home after the purchase, 55-year-old Kumaraswamy found that one of the chocolates was decomposed. He returned to the shop with the inedible chocolate and asked for exchange or a refund for which the shopkeeper refused. 

Armed with the bill and the photos of the inedible chocolate, Kumaraswamy later approached the District Consumer Forum and sued the store and chocolate-maker. He sought a compensation of Rs. 30,000 for selling a damaged product to him. While the store owner remained an ex parte, the chocolate-maker appeared before the Forum through their Attorney.

The company argued that they are an international company and famous for manufacturing chocolate products. 

They follow hazard analysis and critical control by checking all raw materials as per the safety food system before packing and dispatching them to the distributors.

Hearing the arguments, District Consumer Forum President B. Narayanappa and members C. Renukamba and M.C. Devakumar asked the firm to pay Kumaraswamy a compensation of Rs. 2,000 for deficiency in service and give him a new chocolate in exchange for the inedible one. 

The compensation has to be paid before 30 days after the judgement and if the money is not paid, an interest of 8 percent will be added till the payment is made, the Forum ordered.