Consumer forum asks Samsung to refund for faulty handset

"It is very strange that a mobile handset which is used by hands became defective through the hands` sweat," said a Delhi district consumer disputes redressal forum bench, headed by president C K Chaturvedi, and asked Samsung Electronics to pay Rs 10,000 to Madhu Sabharwal.

She had purchased the phone in November 2009 for Rs 9050 from a retailer in Central Delhi. The handset had stopped functioning within a week.

"Forum does not agree that within 10 to 15 days, the handset stopped functioning due to sweat. There must be some manufacturing defect as the phone stopped functioning in no time," the bench, which also included forum members Neeru Mittal and S R Choudhary, said.

Madhu visited Samsung`s authorised service centre, which demanded Rs 9238 to repair the handset, even as it was under warranty period.

In its written statement, Samsung India only stated that the defect had occurred due to the sweat of the hand going into the handset.