Key Takeaways
- Sindh High Court overturns lower court’s ruling against three bread companies.
- Complainant failed to provide sufficient evidence of moldy and expired bread.
- Court imposes Rs. 1.5 million fine on complainant for unsubstantiated claims.
The Sindh High Court has overturned a lower court’s decision against three local bread manufacturers, imposing instead a Rs. 1.5 million fine on the complainant who alleged that he had purchased moldy and expired bread.
In its judgment, the SHC accepted appeals filed by the bread companies and set aside an earlier consumer court decision that had ordered them to pay Rs. 110,000 in damages. The court also directed that the amount already deposited by the manufacturers be refunded.
The case dates back to 2019 when Aurangzeb approached the consumer court, alleging he had purchased bread containing fungus. However, the SHC ruled that the complainant failed to present sufficient evidence to support his allegations. The court noted that no photographs of the allegedly contaminated bread or laboratory testing results were provided.
Furthermore, the Sindh High Court observed that there was a lack of medical records or expert evidence showing any illness suffered by the complainant after consuming the bread. The court held that the complaint lacked basic evidentiary requirements and should have been dismissed at an earlier stage.
The lower consumer court had rejected the complainant’s claim for damages but still ordered the companies to bear litigation costs. Finding the complaint unsubstantiated, the Sindh High Court allowed the appeals filed by the three bread manufacturers and imposed a Rs. 1.5 million penalty on the complainant.
This decision underscores the importance of providing adequate evidence in consumer complaints and highlights the role of higher courts in ensuring that legal proceedings adhere to strict evidentiary standards.
