Relief for car dealership firm Poddar Car World; Gauhati High Court quashes trade suspension order

Guwahati: In what can be seen as a huge relief for Poddar Car World, the Gauhati High Court in an order has directed the car dealership firm to resume normal business operations. The District Transport Office, Kamrup Metropolitan, had temporarily halted the Khanapara operations of Poddar Car World, who has one of Northeast's largest dealership of Maruti Suzuki. The work suspension order was issued on Monday, the 14th of December, 2020, when the authorities decided to suspend the Trade Certificate based on the allegations of a customer who claimed that he was sold an old vehicle on the pretext of a new one.

The customer Montu Boro, who lives in Changsari, Kamrup Rural, had requested to have a test drive of the vehicle he was about to purchase and have a puja performed. When the vehicle was taken to the customer's residence by the salesperson, the vehicle was not returned by the customer. Despite various requests and reminders to the customer that it is a violation of section 42 of the Motor Vehicles Act to drive the vehicle without registration and that the vehicle needs to be brought to the showroom, registered in the customer's name and then only proper delivery will take place, the customer drove around the vehicle without any fear.

Upon being warned that the matter may have to be taken to the Police and the District Transport Office, more than 3 days and 250 km later, the customer, with the assistance of one Ramen Boro along with 15 to 20 local people, brought the vehicle back to the showroom in a questionable condition and demanded a replacement of the vehicle and an exorbitant amount to be discounted. He also threatened to go to the local media if his demands were not met.

When he did not get a positive response to his demands, he involved the local authorities and the media, including Assam Police and District Transport Office. While the Assam Police was about to start investigating the matter, The District Transport Officer without waiting for the outcome of the investigation, just based on the allegations of the customer, came to the Khanapara Showroom with an army of enforcement officers and a parade of local media to suspend the Trade Certificate of the said showroom for an indefinite period. A strong negative propaganda by the media against Poddar Car World ensued, which in turn, did radiate some negative vibes around the marketplace, sources said.

But the order passed by Justice Suman Shyam has come as a big relief for the dealership firm.

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