A Punjab consumer forum has directed a publication company to refund Rs 8,000 paid by an advocate for publishing his book, after it allegedly failed to publish or deliver it despite promising to do so within 15–20 days. Finding the action to be a deficiency in service, the commission directed the company to refund the amount and pay Rs 15,000 as compensation.President Jagdishwar Kumar Chopra and member Mandeep Kaur of the Amritsar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission were hearing the complaint filed by an advocate who had approached the publication company in October 2024 to get his book published.“The conduct of the opposite party (publication firm) in remaining completely silent after receiving payment, ignoring repeated communications, avoiding service of legal notice and thereafter choosing not to contest the present proceedings clearly establishes deficiency in service,” the August 3 order read.Book that never got publishedThe advocate claimed that he contacted the company on October 5, 2024, regarding the publication of his book. The company allegedly offered a full publishing package including ISBN processing, design, printing and online listing against a total payment of Rs 8,000. The advocate added that in good faith, he made two payments of Rs 4,000 each on October 10 and October 17, 2024, following the assurances that the book would be printed and delivered within 15-20 days.However, the publication company allegedly failed to fulfil any part of the agreement. He added that from October 2024 to May 2025, he made repeated follow-ups via phone calls, WhatsApp messages and emails, but the company neither responded satisfactorily nor performed its contractual obligations.Also Read | ‘Right to marry not right to leave jail’: Andhra High Court denies parole to convictLater, in June 2025, he served a legal notice demanding completion of the publication work or a refund along with compensation. However, according to the advocate, the notice was returned unserved the next day, marked “no such person”.Aggrieved, the advocate moved the commission and sought directions for the publication company to either fulfil its contractual obligation by publishing and delivering the book as promised or refund Rs 8,000 with interest, along with Rs 5 lakh compensation and Rs 25,000 as litigation expenses.‘Deprived of publication, harassed’Allowing the complaint, the commission directed the publication company to refund the amount of Rs 8,000 along with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum from the date of filing of the complaint till its realisation.Referring to the compensation, the commission noted that the complainant had been deprived of publication and, apart from the financial loss suffered, had also undergone considerable mental agony, inconvenience and harassment due to the conduct of the publication company.The commission, accordingly, directed the company to pay compensation of Rs 10,000 as well as litigation expenses of Rs 5000 to the advocate within 45 days.TakeawayThis ruling highlights that a publication company cannot evade responsibility after promising a service within a given timeline and can be penalised for such deficiency in service.Story continues below this adFor consumer-related grievances, individuals may contact the consumer helpline in their respective states (Punjab: 0800–22577) and Union territories or call the National Consumer Helpline at 1915 for assistance.Don’t miss out on these stories:Israel conflict cited for job delay, Kerala man given ‘fake flight booking’ wins Rs 5.8 lakhJewellery, gadgets ‘gone’ from ‘ripped’ luggage: Airline ordered to pay Rs 3.61 lakhKerala builder to pay Rs 25 lakh as ‘unfit’ home forces family out within 2 years