Signing you in

Ajith alleged that despite his profile remaining active and receiving annual assurances from the bureau, he was left waiting for nine years. In that time, his father passed away from cancer. Aggrieved by the “deficiency of service and unfair trade practice”, he approached the Kannur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, in November 2025—less than a month after his father’s demise.

The marriage bureau did not respond to the commission’s notices and failed to file a written defence. The commission consequently proceeded ex parte—meaning that it heard and decided the matter in the absence of the bureau, based solely on the complainant’s evidence.

After examining the registration and payment receipts, the commission concluded on June 30 that the bureau was “directly bound to [redress]” the complainant’s grievances. It ordered the marriage bureau to refund the Rs 3,000 registration fee, as well as pay Rs 3,000 as compensation for the “mental agony” caused to him, along with Rs 2,000 towards litigation costs. The bureau was given 30 days to pay the amount, failing which it will attract an interest of 9 per cent per annum.