Cold Storage Sells Farmer's 48,000 Kg Carrots Without Consent, Faces Rs 31.5 Lakh Penalty

Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directed a cold storage facility to pay Rs 31.54 lakh to a farmer for selling 48,450 kg of his carrots without consent.

The farmer stored 1,033 bags of carrots (approx 77,250 kg) and 450 bags of beetroots; only 387 bags of carrots were returned, and the rest were sold by the facility.

The commission found the cold storage operator guilty of deficiency in service under consumer protection laws for failing to preserve the crop and acting without authorization.

The operator argued the farmer was advised to sell due to heat and claimed the sale was authorized, but the commission ruled there was no evidence of spoilage or consent.

The penalty includes Rs 29.07 lakh for the carrot value, Rs 2.32 lakh for storage charges already collected, and Rs 15,000 compensation, payable within two months.