A consumer commission has dismissed a complaint against Shoppers Stop over a ₹10 carry bag charge and imposed ₹10,000 in costs on the complainant, finding that he had failed to establish deficiency in service or unfair trade practice.
According to the commission order, Suresh Kumar Amruthaluri purchased clothes worth ₹1,609 from Shoppers Stop on March 10, 2025. His bill included ₹10 for a customised paper carry bag and ₹1.52 as GST at 18 per cent.
Consumer Sought ₹4 Crore From Retailer
Amruthaluri alleged that the retailer had not properly described the carry bag on the invoice and had violated labelling requirements under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. He also alleged that Shoppers Stop charged different prices for carry bags of different sizes across its stores.
He sought ₹4 crore from the retailer, proposing that 90 per cent of the amount be used to modernise consumer courts and the remaining 10 per cent be awarded to him for mental agony, court expenses and bringing the alleged violation to the commission’s notice.
Shoppers Stop opposed the complaint, maintaining that purchasing the carry bag was optional. The retailer said the complainant had been informed that the bag was chargeable and had voluntarily bought it. It also argued that the Legal Metrology rules cited in the complaint did not apply because a paper carry bag was not a “pre-packed commodity”.
The retailer further told the commission that Amruthaluri had previously filed a consumer complaint against it over a ₹13 carry bag charge and had been awarded ₹3,000 in that case.
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Commission Examines Earlier Complaints
The bench comprising President Vakkanti Narasimha Rao and members P.V.T.R. Jawahar Babu and Suma Vala noted that Amruthaluri had bought a carry bag from Shoppers Stop on an earlier occasion and had already pursued a complaint over the issue.
The commission found that Shoppers Stop had displayed information about carry bag charges at different locations in the store. It also noted that the complainant had not disputed photographs submitted by the retailer showing such displays.
The order recorded that Amruthaluri had earlier purchased clothes from the same retailer on August 20, 2023, when he paid ₹13 for a carry bag, and filed a consumer complaint over that charge in 2024.
The commission said the earlier case demonstrated that he was aware Shoppers Stop charged separately for carry bags. Despite that knowledge, it observed, he did not carry his own shopping bag when he returned to the store on March 10, 2025.
It also considered photographs showing “SAY NO” to carry bag notices at different locations, including the entry point, which the complainant did not dispute.
The commission examined other cases filed by Amruthaluri and noted that he had lodged several consumer complaints against different traders and service providers. These included complaints involving Vijetha Super Market over carry bag charges, Bharati Airtel over SMS reminders for recharge, MakeMyTrip and Qatar Airways over alleged deficiency in service, a television replacement claim and a complaint seeking a refund of cinema ticket amounts over alleged toilet repairs at a mall.
Complaint Dismissed, ₹10,000 Costs Imposed
The commission concluded that the complaint against Shoppers Stop was not a genuine consumer dispute and held that the process had been misused. It described the complainant as a habitual litigant and said he had filed false and frivolous consumer complaints against traders and service providers for personal gain.
It held that the complaint failed to establish any deficiency in service or unfair trade practice and dismissed it while imposing exemplary costs of ₹10,000.
Of the total amount, ₹5,000 was directed to be paid to Shoppers Stop and the remaining ₹5,000 deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund account maintained by the commission. The order gave 45 days from its receipt for compliance.
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