Holding the above-mentioned authority responsible for delay in payment of rebate the Forum bench comprising president R.P. Bajaj and member H.S. Walia allowed the complaint of Rajesh Bhatti with costs of Rs 1,000. The respondent was further directed to make the said refund to the complainant along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of complaint till the final payment.

In his complaint, Rajesh Bhatti had mentioned that he purchased a Maruti van from Modern Automobiles, Chandigarh. Since the van was to be used as a taxi, the complainant added that he was entitled to excise duty rebate, but the same was not paid to him by way of refund, it was alleged.

Originally, the complaint was against the Maruti Udyog but as the said refund was to be given by Assistant Collector, Central Excise, he was made a party.

In their reply, Maruti Udyog did not contest the entitlement of the complainant and stated that all relevant papers had been forwarded to the authority concerned but the claim had been rejected. Taking up the complaint, the Forum bench observed that the case of the complainant had been processed and forwarded to Assistant Collector but the same had been rejected. The bench therefore directed the authority concerned to pay refund along with interest.