Chandigarh, Apr 20 (KNN) The Chandigarh Consumer Commission recently ordered Bata India Ltd to pay Rs 9,000 fine for charging Rs 3 from a customer for a paper bag to carry the shoebox.

The forum ordered that a customer cannot be compelled to pay for the bag, and that it was a clear deficiency in service. The consumer forum ruled that it was the store`s duty to provide a free bag to the customer who purchased their product.

According to legal experts, the said order is legally valid across the country and stores cannot charge consumers additional charges for the bag if the product is purchased from the same store.

The forum's order came on a complaint filed by a consumer who was charged for the cost of the carry bag.

The consumer forum observed that if the companies are eager to protect the environment, they should provide free environment-friendly bags to the customers.