In a significant ruling upholding consumer rights, the Dharashiv District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a police welfare branch-operated petrol pump and the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to jointly pay over Rs 1.5 lakh in compensation to a lawyer. The order comes as redressal for damages caused to his vehicle after it was filled with water-adulterated diesel.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The case dates back to the night of September 23, 2021. Lawyer Mukund Madekar from Ramnagar in Dharashiv filled diesel worth Rs 500 at the Osmanabad Police Petrol Pump. This outlet is operated by the Dharashiv district police welfare branch and functions as a BPCL distributor. He was preparing for a journey out of town.
However, within just 10 to 15 minutes of driving away, his car stalled abruptly. The vehicle's automated system soon flashed a sensor alert, indicating a critical fault in the fuel system. The following day, when Madekar returned to the petrol pump, he discovered he was not alone. Several other vehicle owners were reporting identical breakdowns after refuelling from the same outlet.
Costly Repairs and Legal Battle
Madekar's car had to be towed to an authorised workshop in Solapur, incurring an initial cost of Rs 4,000. A preliminary repair worth Rs 2,691 was carried out, but the vehicle continued to suffer from severe knocking sounds and poor pickup. A subsequent detailed technical inspection revealed the root cause: water-mixed diesel had damaged critical components like the injectors and the common rail high-pressure pump.
The authorised service centre estimated the total repair cost at a staggering Rs 1,25,205. Advocate Ashish Shahane represented Madekar as he approached the consumer commission. The bench, comprising President Praja D Hendre and Member Vaishali M Borade, heard the matter.
During the proceedings, both the petrol pump management and BPCL denied the allegations. They questioned the existence of a consumer relationship and challenged the authenticity of the service centre's job card. The commission, however, rejected these defences.
Commission's Ruling and Official Response
The commission noted that Madekar had produced a valid fuel receipt, bearing No. 3284. It also observed that the authorised service centre's job card clearly mentioned "water in fuel tank" as the cause of the engine failure. Holding the act as deficient service, the forum passed a direct order.
The commission directed the manager of the police welfare branch-operated petrol pump and BPCL to jointly and severally pay:
- Rs 1,31,896 towards repair and towing expenses.
- Rs 10,000 as compensation for mental and physical harassment.
- Rs 8,000 towards litigation costs.
The total compensation amounts to Rs 1,49,896, which must be paid within 45 days of the order. When contacted, Dharashiv's Superintendent of Police, Ritu Khoker-Kalyan, stated that the police and BPCL are in a contract where the police handle operations and BPCL is responsible for construction and maintenance. She said, "We will discuss the consumer commission's order with BPCL for filing an appeal. Fixing accountability with BPCL, we will ensure that no such incident takes place in future."
This ruling serves as a strong precedent for consumers facing negligence from fuel stations and highlights the accountability of both operators and oil corporations in ensuring fuel quality.
