Charging ₹30 For Carry Bags; Gurugram Consumer Commission Holds Red Tape Liable
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Gurugram, comprising President Shri Sanjeev Jindal and Members Smt. Jyoti Siwach and Smt. Khushwinder Kaur, held Red Tape Limited liable for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice after it charged a customer ₹30 for three carry bags along with his purchase. The Commission further observed that continued charging for carry bags...
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Gurugram, comprising President Shri Sanjeev Jindal and Members Smt. Jyoti Siwach and Smt. Khushwinder Kaur, held Red Tape Limited liable for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice after it charged a customer ₹30 for three carry bags along with his purchase.
The Commission further observed that continued charging for carry bags could encourage a practice of extracting money from consumers and defeat the objectives of the Consumer Protection Act.
Facts:
The complainant, Ravinder Jain, visited Red Tape's outlet at Satya The Hive, Sector-102, Gurugram, on August 31, 2025 and purchased certain items worth ₹4,713. Along with the purchase, the outlet charged him ₹30 for three carry bags.
Jain requested a complimentary carry bag, stating that he was unable to manually carry the purchased items. However, the outlet refused his request. He consequently approached the Consumer Commission, alleging that charging for the carry bags amounted to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Red Tape did not contest the proceedings and was proceeded ex parte on March 13, 2026.
Observation and decision:
The Commission considered earlier decisions concerning the charging of customers for carry bags, including the National Commission's decision in Big Bazaar (Future Retail Ltd.) v. Ashok Kumar and the Chandigarh State Commission's decision in M/s Lifestyle International Pvt. Ltd. v. Pankaj Chandgothia. It also relied on Section 36(5) of the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, concerning expenses incidental to putting goods into a deliverable state.
The Commission ultimately held Red Tape guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practice, directing it to refund the ₹30 charged for the three bags, along with 9% annual interest, and pay ₹15,000 compensation for mental harassment and pain and agony and ₹11,000 towards litigation expenses.
Advocate for the complainant: Ms. Aarti S. Jain
Case Title: Ravinder Jain v. Red Tape Limited
Case Number: Consumer Complaint No. 926 of 2025.