Bharathi
Knitting Company Vs. DHL Worldwide Express Ltd. [1996] INSC 701 (9 May 1996)
Ramaswamy,
K.Ramaswamy, K.Faizan Uddin (J) G.B. Pattanaik (J)
CITATION:
1996 SCC (4) 704 JT 1996 (6) 254 1996 SCALE (5)142
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
Leave
granted.
We
have heard learned counsel on both sides.
This
appeal by special leave arises from the appellate order of the National
Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi dated 17.1.1996 made in FA No.317 of 1993 which in turn reversed the
order of the State Forum Commission, Madras in O.P. No.364/93 dated June 9, 1993. The admitted facts are that the respondent-plaintiff
manufacturer appears to have an agreement with a German buyer for summer
season, 1990 and consigned certain goods with documents sent in a cover on May
25, 1990 Containing
(1) invoice
No.32;
(2) packaging
list;
(3)
Original Export Certificate and certificate of origin No.T/WG/001316 dated
24.5.90; and
(A)
Original GSP Form A No.E1. It would appear that the cover did not reach the
destination. Consequently, though the duplicate copies were subsequently sent
by the date of receipt of the consignment, the season was over.
Resultantly,
the Consignee agreed to pay only DM 35,000/- instead of invoice value DM
56,469.63. As a result, the appellant laid the complaint before the State
Commission for the difference of the loss incurred by the respondent in DM
21,469.63 equivalent to Rs.4,29,392.60 which was ordered.
The
respondent carried the matter in appeal. The National Commission in the
impugned order held that since the liability was only of an extent of US $ 100
as per the receipt, the appellant is entitled for deficiency of service only to
that extent which is equivalent to Rs.3,515/- with interest at 18% from May 25, 1990 till date of realisation with cost.
Thus, this appeal by special leave.
It is
contended by Mr. M.N. Krishnamani, learned senior counsel appearing for the
appellant that the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (for short, the 'Act') is a
beneficial legislation envisaged to accord expeditious and inexpensive relief
to the consumer; when the Commission gave a finding that there was a deficiency
in service, the National Commission was wrong in law to reduce the liability of
US $100 Contained in the receipts There is no consensus ad idem between the
appellant and the respondent who is a courier vis-a-vis the appellant.
Therefore, the National Commission was wrong in awarding deficiency amount only
to the extent of US $100. He seeks to contend that until there is an agreement
by the appellant by consensus at idem with the respondent for carriage of the
invoice with limited liability, it must be presumed that in the event of nor-
delivery of the cover thereof, the resultant damages must be born by the
courier. The State Commission would be entitled to award the difference of the
damages to the appellant. The State Commission, therefore, was right in
awarding the damages. We find no force in the contention.
It is
true that the Act is a protective legislation to make available inexpensive and
expeditious summary remedy.
There
must be a finding that the respondent was responsible for the deficiency in
service, the consequence of which would be that the appellant had incurred the
liability for loss or damages suffered by the consumer due to deficiency in service
thereof. When the parties have contracted and limited their liabilities, the
question arises: whether the State Commission or the National Commission under
the Act could give relief for damages in excess of the limits prescribed under kha
Contract? It is true that the limit of damages would depend upon the terms of
the contract and facts in each case.
In
Anson's Laws of Contract, 24th Edn. at page 152, on exemption clause with
regard to notice of a printed clause, it was stated that a person who signed, a
document containing contract and terms is normally bound by them even though he
has not read them, and even though he is ignorant of their precise legal
effect. But if the document is not signed, being merely delivered to him, then
the question arises: whether the terms of the contract were adequately brought
to his notice? The terms of the contract have elaborately been considered and
decided, The details thereof are not necessary for us to Pursue. It is seen
that when a person signs a document which contains certain contractual terms,
as rightly pointed out by Mr. R.F. Nariman, learned senior counsel, that
normally parties are bound by such contracts it is for the party to establish
exception in a suit. When a party to the contract disputes the binding nature
of the signed document, it is for him to prove the terms in the contract or
circumstances in which he came to sign the documents need to be established.
The question we need to consider is; whether the District Forum or the State
Commission or the rational Commission could go behind the terms of the
contract? it is true, as contended by Mr. M.N. Krishnamani, that in an
appropriate case, the Tribunal without trenching upon acute disputed question
of facts may decide the validity of the terms of the contract based upon the
fact situation and may grant remedy. But each case depends upon fits own facts.
In an appropriate case where there is an acute dispute of facts necessarily the
tribunal has to refer the parties to original civil Court established under the
CPC or appropriate State law to have the claims decided between the parties.
But when there is a specific term in the contract, the parties are bound by the
terms in the contract. The National Commission in the impugned order pointed
out as under:
"We
have considered the submissions of the counsel for the parties on the facts of
the case and having regard the earlier decisions of this Commission. The
consignment containing the documents sent in the cover had been accepted by the
Appellant and was subject to the terms and conditions mentioned on the
consignment note. The Complaining the documents sent in the cover had been
accepted by the Appellant and was subject to the terms and conditions mentioned
on the consignment note . The Complainant had signed the said note at the time
of entrusting the consignment and had greed to and accepted the terms and
conditions mentioned therein. Clauses 5 and 7 of the terms and conditions as
also the important notice mentioned on The consignment note are reproduced below:
Clause
6: "Limitation of liability:
Without
prejudice to clause 7 the liability of DHL for any loss or damage to the
shipment, which term shall include all documents or parcels consigned to DHL
under this Air bill and shall not mean any one document or envelope included in
the shipment is limited to the lesser of
a) US
$ 100
b) The
amount of loss or damage to a document or parcel actually sustained or
c) The
actual value of the document or parcel as determined under Section 6 hereof,
without regard to the commercial utility or special value to the shipper.
Clause
7: Consequent damages excluded:
DHL
shall not be liable in any event for any consequential or special damages or
other indirect loss however arising whether or not DHL had knowledge that such
damage might be incurred including but not limited to loss of income, profits
interest, utility or loss of market.
Important
Notice: by the conditions set out below DHL and its servants and agents are
firstly not to be liable at all for certain losses and damages and secondly
wherever they are to be liable the amount of liability strictly limited to the
amount stated in condition and customers are therefore advised to purchase
insurance cover to ensure that their interests are fully protected in all event.
Under clause 5 of the terms end conditions of the contracts the liability of
the Appellant for any loss or damage to the consignment: was limited to US $
100. Clause 7 of the contract specifically provided that the liability of the
Appellant for any consequential or Especial damages or any otter indirect loss,
that may occur including the loss of market or profits etc. was excluded. It is
also pertinent to note that despite the advice in the important notice, the
Complainant did not did one at the time or Consignment the contents of the
cover and also not purchased the insurance cover to ensure that their interests
are fully protected in all events." In view of the above consideration and
findings we are of the opinion that the national Commission was right in
limiting the liability undertaken in the contract entered into by the. parties
and in awarding the amount for deficiency service to the extent of the
liability undertaken by the respondent. Therefore, we do not think that there
is any illegality in the order passed by the Commission. Shri Krishnamani has
brought to our notice that there are number of judgments covering divergent
views. In view of the view we have expressed above, it is now settled law and
the Tribunals would follow the same. Lastly, it is Contended that besides the
amounts awarded by the State Commission, liberty may be given to the. appellant
to pursue the remedy available in law. It is needless to mention that the
remedy available at law would be pursued accordingly to law.
The
appeal is dismissed. No costs.
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