The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has delivered a decisive ruling, overturning an order by the Maharashtra State Consumer Commission that directed a prominent car manufacturer to compensate a consumer with Rs 1 lakh for the non-deployment of airbags during an accident.
The NCDRC’s decision was grounded in the revelation that the driver failed to wear a seatbelt at the time of the collision, which contributed to the airbags remaining inactive. Despite the consumer’s assertion that airbag activation should not hinge upon seatbelt usage, the NCDRC deemed the argument unsubstantiated, lacking empirical evidence. Furthermore, the commission dismissed the state commission’s assertion of manufacturing defects leading to airbag non-deployment, citing similar grounds of insufficient evidence.
Experts in the field underline the critical role of seatbelt usage in maximising airbag effectiveness in cars. The NCDRC’s decision, rooted in the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, underscores this synergy between seatbelt engagement and airbag functionality. While the state commission contended that the severity of the crash warranted airbag deployment even in the absence of seatbelt usage, citing media reports of the carmaker recalling vehicles due to airbag defects, the NCDRC remained unconvinced. The commission, in its evaluation, found the consumer’s reliance on the Western India Automobile Association’s report and media coverage insufficient to qualify as expert opinion under the Consumer Protection Act. In its conclusive judgment, the NCDRC highlighted the absence of credible technical or expert evaluation, as mandated by Section 13(1)(c) of the Consumer Protection Act, rendering the state commission’s finding of a car defect untenable. The ruling underscores the necessity for comprehensive and expert-driven assessments in consumer dispute resolutions, setting a precedent for future cases.
