No More Mall Parking Fees in Chhattisgarh: Consumer Court Slaps ₹55,000 Penalty for Charging ₹30

In a landmark verdict empowering consumer rights and curbing unauthorized commercial extractions, the Chhattisgarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ruled that collecting parking charges from shoppers at shopping malls constitutes an "unfair trade practice" and a "deficiency in service." Upholding an earlier order of the District Consumer Forum, the State Commission dismissed the appeal filed by Ambuja City Centre Mall management in Raipur, directing it to offer completely free parking facilities to visitors. To enforce accountability, the appellate forum penalized the mall management with a hefty ₹55,000 fine for wrongfully extracting a ₹30 parking slip.The ₹30 Overcharge Dispute: Mall Fined ₹55,000 for Harassing VisitorThe legal battle originated from an incident at Raipur's prominent commercial hub on June 15, 2025:Unwarranted Drop-Off Charge: The complainant, Anjinesh Shukla, drove his vehicle to Ambuja City Centre Mall solely to drop off his mother. Despite requesting the customary free drop-off window without parking, mall security staff denied the facility and forcefully charged him a parking fee of ₹30.District Forum Order Upheld: Aggrieved by the coercion, Shukla moved the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which found the mall guilty of deficiency in service. The mall's appeal before the State Commission met a firm rejection.45-Day Payment Deadline: The State Consumer Commission ordered the mall management to pay ₹50,000 as mental compensation and an additional ₹5,000 to cover legal litigation costs directly to Shukla within a strict 45-day deadline.Unauthorized FASTag Deductions Slammed by CommissionBeyond physical parking tickets, the judicial forum took severe exception to automated digital tolling methods deployed across private mall premises:Illegal Use of FASTag: The Commission noted that the mall management was collecting parking charges automatically via FASTag scanners without statutory authority, pointing out that electronic toll-collection rights are strictly reserved for government-authorized toll plazas and statutory highway authorities.Compulsory Free Amenities: The court reiterated that commercial complexes and malls are sanctioned floor area ratios (FAR) and building permits on the mandatory condition that adequate, accessible, and free parking is provided to visiting patrons.Statewide Precedent: Collectors and Commissioners Held AccountableThe legal ramifications of the State Commission’s definitive judgment extend far beyond a single mall:Binding on All District Commissions: Because the ruling was delivered by the apex state consumer tribunal, the precedent becomes legally binding on all District Consumer Commissions operating across Chhattisgarh.Statewide Fee Collection Declared Illegal: Collecting vehicle parking fees at any shopping mall, multiplex, or commercial center across the state is now deemed entirely unlawful under consumer protection laws.Strict Administrative Enforcement: If shopping mall operators continue to extort parking fees from customers in violation of the judicial decree, local District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners will be held directly accountable for failing to execute consumer protection mandates.