Poor signal rings trouble for BSNL

Ludhiana: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has penalized BSNL for deficiency in service after a customer experienced poor cellular signal in and around his residence.
The commission comprising president K K Kareer and member Jaswinder Singh ordered the company to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation, Rs 2,000 as litigation expenses and refund the balance outstanding amount in the account of the complainant, Rohit Sabharwal of Model Gram.

The complainant, who is a resident of Baba Ram Singh Avenue, at the rear of Sacha Sauda Market, Ferozepur Road, said he had been a customer of BSNL for the past 10 years. “I have been using its mobile SIM and had a balance of more than Rs 12,400 in my mobile account. There was a major issue of poor mobile signal, but the respondent firm had not resolved it. The calls were not getting through and the operator would always respond that the number is not reachable. I also lodged a complaint with the BSNL, but they said due to non-payment of rent to the owner of the building where the mobile tower of my area was installed, the owner has switched off the power of the mobile tower.”
In its response, the BSNL mentioned that there was a technical reason for low signal at his residence; there is a multi-storey building right in between the tower and the residence of the complainant.
After hearing the arguments and going through evidence on record, the commission held that this clearly amounted to deficiency in service on the part of the opposite party.