Smart Television Rs 20000 Stops Working Wins Rs 57000 Compensation

Noting that a smart television purchased for the enjoyment of a family led to inconvenience, mental agony and monetary loss after it was found to be non-functioning, the District Consumer Commission in Telangana’s Nalgonda has directed the manufacturer and service providers of the Thomson QLED TV to refund them Rs 20,449 for the defective television and pay Rs 1,499 for protection coverage.

A bench comprising president Mamidi Christopher and members S Sandhya Rani and V Venkateshwarlu also awarded Rs 25,000 compensation and Rs 10,000 litigation costs for deficiency in service.

“The complainant purchased the television for domestic use and enjoyment of the family. Due to the non-functioning of the TV within a short period from the date of purchase and the failure of the opposite parties to rectify the same, even after detecting the defect, and despite warranty and protection coverage, the complainant was undoubtedly subjected to inconvenience, mental agony, and financial loss,” the commission said on May 25.

The complainant had purchased a Thomson QLED Ultra HD Smart Google TV with Dolby Vision and Atmos through the online platform Flipkart after being satisfied with the specifications and representations made regarding the product. The price of the TV was Rs 20,449.

It was further stated that the television was installed in January 2025 by the personnel of Jeevan Consumer Services Pvt Ltd, who collected Rs 1,000 towards installation charges.

The complainant also purchased complete appliance protection coverage by paying Rs 1,499. According to the complainant, the manufacturer had also provided a one-year warranty for the television.

The complainant alleged before the consumer commission that the television worked properly only for about six months and stopped functioning in July 2025. On noticing the defect, he lodged complaints through the toll-free number of Flipkart and also addressed emails to the company seeking rectification of the defect.

He claimed that at first there was no proper response and, subsequently, a technician was deputed by the opposite parties, who inspected the television and informed him that its main board was defective.

The complainant contended that though the defect arose during the warranty period and despite the comprehensive appliance protection coverage, the opposite parties neither repaired nor replaced the defective main board and refused to replace the television with a new one.

It was alleged that the opposite parties were merely informed that replacement was not possible and that repair would be attempted if the product was repairable, but no effective repair was carried out.

The court noted that despite service of notice, the opposite parties remained absent and were accordingly set ex parte.

Jagriti Rai works with The Indian Express, where she writes from the vital intersection of law, gender, and society. Working on a dedicated legal desk, she focuses on translating complex legal frameworks into relatable narratives, exploring how the judiciary and legislative shifts empower and shape the consciousness of citizens in their daily lives. Expertise Socio-Legal Specialization: Jagriti brings a critical, human-centric perspective to modern social debates. Her work focuses on how legal developments impact gender rights, marginalized communities, and individual liberties. Diverse Editorial Background: With over 4 years of experience in digital and mainstream media, she has developed a versatile reporting style. Her previous tenures at high-traffic platforms like The Lallantop and Dainik Bhaskar provided her with deep insights into the information needs of a diverse Indian audience. Academic Foundations: Post-Graduate in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), India’s premier media training institute. Master of Arts in Ancient History from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), providing her with the historical and cultural context necessary to analyze long-standing social structures and legal evolutions. ... Read More