Consumer court awards ₹17.83 lakh to actor Harisree Ashokan for defective tiles in his 'Punjabi House'

A district consumer court in Kerala recently ordered the payment of ₹17.83 lakhs as compensation to Mollywood actor Harisree Ashokan for the supply of defective tiles for his 'Punjabi House' home [PK Ashokan v Peekay Tiles Centre & ors]..The moniker for the house is linked to the 1998 hit film 'Punjabi House', in which the actor played the role of Ramanan. In a July 31 order, the Ernakulam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) found that there was clear deficiency of service by those who were responsible for laying tiles at this house, despite assurances that any defects in the tiles would be resolved. .DCDRC President DB Binu and members Ramachandran V and Sreevidhia TN found that Ashokan's trust was broken due to poor workmanship and exploitation. The district forum noted that even well-known individuals like Ashokan can suffer from such negligence, broken promises, and unfulfilled commitments."In our observation, this case exemplifies the profound impact that consumer grievances can have on an individual's life. The complainant, a well-known cine artist, trusted the assurances of the opposite parties and made a significant investment in his dream home, 'Punjabi House', only to be met with poor workmanship and exploitation. The frustration and mental agony he endured while navigating the labyrinth of broken promises and unfulfilled commitments serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of consumers in the face of negligence," the consumer court ruling said..The case concerned a purchase 2,500 square feet of floor tiles by actor Harisree Ashokan from Peekay Tiles Centre, which was imported by Kerala AGL World. The tiles, costing ₹2.75 lakhs, were laid by NS Marble Works, under the supervision of its owner, KA Pius.However, before the construction was completed, the tiles began to fade, and water and soil started entering through gaps, leading Ashokan to approach the consumer court after multiple failed attempts to resolve the issue with the suppliers and installers..Ashokan's counsel told the forum that the tiles laid at his home were of substandard quality.The counsel for Peekay Tiles (seller) and Kerala AGL World (importer) submitted that the complaint was not maintainable since it was filed four years after the purchase of the tiles and that, in any case, they were not responsible for the defect in the tiles. NS Marble Works (represented by its proprietor KA Pius) claimed that it was not assigned the work and was arraigned only to strengthen the case. Ashokan, however, submitted evidence of payment to NS Marble Works to prove its involvement in placing the tiles at his home..The DCDRC noted that the duration of the warranty on the tiles was not disclosed and therefore, the four-year gap in approaching the consumer forum could not disadvantage the consumer. It concluded that the damage caused by the tiles was due to improper laying techniques adopted by NS Marble Works, as suggested by an expert commissioner's report.The forum also emphasized upon a consumer's right to be informed about product standards and service details to make informed decisions. It found that Harisree Ashokan was denied this right as the opposite parties willfully suppressed vital information."The willful suppression of vital documents, including warranty information and other records of the tiles purchased by the consumer, by the 1st and 3rd opposite parties, constitutes a violation of the consumer's 'right to information', a fundamental statutory right. We are therefore of the opinion that it is our duty to ensure such injustices are curtailed and rectified, restoring faith in the consumer protection framework and affirming that the rights and dignity of individuals must always be upheld," the forum added..Therefore, the consumer forum ordered the NS Marble Works to pay ₹16,58,641 lakhs for the losses incurred by Ashokan due to poor workmanship while laying the tiles.Additionally, the forum directed all opposite parties to jointly pay ₹1 lakh as compensation and ₹25,000 as costs of proceedings within one month..Harisree Ashokan was represented by advocates TJ Lakhmanan and PB Jefin.Advocates Philip T Varghese, Thomas T Varghese, Achu Shubha Abraham, G Padmakumar, Litha VT, Afsana Ashraf, Jayasankar K, Denny Varghese, Lijo Raju, Prabha Jose, Jaisy TA, Renji John, Reni John and Sruthi Sara Jacob appeared for Peekay Tiles Centre.KA Pius and Kerala AGL World Kochi were represented by advocate Denny Varghese..[Read Order]