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In a recent ruling, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Central Mumbai, has directed Flipkart to pay ₹10,000 in compensation to a man for mental harassment after cancelling his iPhone order. The commission deemed Flipkart’s cancellation as intentional, citing it as a deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
According to the complainant, a Dadar resident, he ordered an iPhone from Flipkart in July 2022, paying ₹39,628 via credit card. Despite the promised delivery date of July 12, he received a cancellation SMS six days later, alleging unavailability during delivery attempts.
While Flipkart attributed the cancellation to its delivery partner, Ekart Logistics, the commission held Flipkart responsible as the unilateral cancellation occurred despite the complainant’s constant communication with Flipkart.
Flipkart’s defense, stating its role as an intermediary platform, was rejected by the commission, which emphasized Flipkart’s intentional cancellation to gain extra profit. Although a refund was issued, the commission ruled in favor of compensation for the mental harassment endured by the complainant.
In its order, the commission instructed Flipkart to pay ₹10,000 for mental harassment and agony, along with ₹3,000 towards costs, highlighting the platform’s unfair trade practices and deficiency in service. This ruling sets a precedent for online platforms to ensure fair and transparent dealings with consumers, deterring similar incidents of unilateral cancellations for profit motives.
