A matrimonial portal can only facilitate marriage and not guarantee it, a Bengaluru consumer court told a 35-year-old man who had sued an online matrimonial service provider for Rs 3 lakh damages. He had accused the portal of dishonesty and deficiency in service, claiming it had failed to find a prospective match for him after collecting Rs 59,180 as non-refundable enrolment fee. The complainant, who is a resident of Malleswaram, had registered with Elite Matrimony Services on June 17, 2019 in an attempt to find a prospective match. He had paid Rs 59,180 through a cheque and was waiting for the profiles of prospective brides.
The aspiring bridegroom claimed the portal, which had advertised to have over one lakh matches for its subscribers, failed to send him profiles despite him being a member for nearly four months. He said when he approached Elite Matrimony’s office with a complaint on the matter, he was treated rudely by a woman staffer.
The man approached the Bengaluru Rural and Urban 1st additional district consumer disputes redressal forum in Shantinagar with a complaint against Elite Matrimony Services on October 24, 2019 and sought a refund of his deposit and compensation of Rs 3 lakh for dishonest and deficient service.
The complainant presented his case on his own while the portal’s attorney claimed the complaint was frivolous, vexatious and with ulterior motives. Counsel for Elite Matrimony Services stated that the man had opted for the package and was provided profiles of 14 prospective brides, of which he picked two. He further said the agency was not responsible if the match didn’t materialise as it was their job only to facilitate the matter.
Dismissing the complaint on July 23, 2021, the judges observed an online matchmaking portal can’t assure positive response at all times and does not guarantee a marriage within the service provided. Moreover, the complainant has not denied the claim that two out of 14 profiles of prospective brides sent by the opposite party were accepted by him, they pointed out.
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