Paying Members Of Sports Clubs Are Consumers, Rules Gujarat State Commission

Paying members of sports clubs are consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, the Gujarat State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held, setting aside the dismissal of a lifetime member’s complaint over the termination of his membership of the Surat District Cricket Association.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held that members of sports and recreational associations who pay fees to avail facilities and services qualify as consumers, partly allowing an appeal and remanding a complaint against the Surat District Cricket Association to the District Commission, Surat, for fresh adjudication on merits [Manubhai C Shah v. Surat District Cricket Association and Others] .

The Bench of President (In-charge) I.D. Patel and Member Dr. J.G. Mecwan decided Appeal No. 353 of 2018. The order was written by Dr. Mecwan.

The appellant, Manubhai C Shah , a Goa resident, is a lifetime member (Family Patron Category, membership number 03877) of the Surat District Cricket Association. His case before the District Forum was that he had regularly paid membership and maintenance fees, including Rs 4,000 by cheque in April 2010 and Rs 12,000 in April 2013, both encashed by the Association.