Man Sues Kerala Matrimony For Failing To Find A Bride, Gets Rs 25000 Compensation

A consumer court in Kerala's Ernakulam in a recent order directed the Kerala Matrimony to pay Rs 25000 compensation to a man who alleged that the match-making portal failed to find him a bride.

The court observed that the man was one among the many victims of the match-making platform

Source : pexels

A consumer court in Kerala's Ernakulam in a recent order directed the Kerala Matrimony to pay Rs 25000 compensation to a man who alleged that the match-making portal failed to find him a bride. The court while observing that the man was one among the many victims of the match-making platforms ordered the matrimonial website to refund the Rs 4,100 fee they charged him with interest and Rs 3000 as litigation cost to the aggrieved man.

The case came up when a man from Cherthala approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal forum (DCDRC) at Ernakulam, in May 2019. The man had registered himself with his biodata on Kerala Matrimony's website in 2018.

According to his submission in court a representative from Kerala Matrimony pursued him to pay Rs 4,100 as a subscription fees for three-months to get matched with a potential bride.

The aggrieved man further told the court that before he paid the fee he had asked for details of prospective matches. However, the portal's employee said that details can only be shared once he pays the fee.

After the man paid the fee to Kerala Matrimony in January 2019, his calls to the website allegedly went unanswered.

Kerala Matrimony on the other hand told the consumer court that the man had subscribed to their classic package, which allowed him access to multiple profiles and communication features. It contended that it had not stated anywhere that they would arrange the marriage for the complainant, nor could he show any proof of such a guarantee.

The matchmaking portal further told the court that it was just an intermediary and its role was to provide access to information regarding prospective brides on its website. It contended that it has no role beyond providing access to information entered by customers registered on the portal.

The website further added that the man had access to a number of profiles and was allowed to contact 50 numbers associated with such profiles, to find a suitable bride. And the company had communicated these terms and conditions clearly to the aggrieved man.

However, the consumer forum concluded that there was no substantial evidence to show that Kerala Matrimony delivered on its promised services and observed that the complainant was one of several 'victims' of the matrimonial website, going by public opinions from social media that were produced by the complainant to support his case.

"The opposite party had given attractive displays to catch the attention of the seekers of required and had not provided necessary services to them and the opposite party have not produced any evidence to prove that they have provided the promised service to the complainant. The complainant had also produced the public opinion from social media to substantiate his argument. Therefore it can be concluded that the complainant is only one among the many of the victims of the opposite party. Several others also had underwent the
same experience from the opposite party. There is no contra evidence from the side of the opposite party in any of this points." the court ordered.