A local consumer court in Karachi has imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the popular ride-hailing service, Careem on account of causing mental agony and providing faulty service to a consumer.
Careem was found guilty of violating Section 13 of the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014 following which Judge Javed Ali Korejo ordered Junaid Iqbal, the chief executive of Careem Pakistan to submit a fine of Rs 25,000 in addition to Rs 10,000 as professional litigation fee and Rs 15,000 as damages to the complainant within a month.
Failure to submit the fine within the prescribed time can result in imprisonment for a period of 1 month to 3 years with a fine of Rs 50,000 or both under Section 33(2) of the Act. Interestingly, Careem’s legal team admitted that no complaint has been filed against the Careem Captain, however, he has been issued a warning to be careful in the future.
Why the Matter Was Taken to Court
Advocate Mehmood Ahmed Khan booked a Careem ride on May 26 earlier this year when the driver drove recklessly and used vulgar language. In addition, on being asked to follow the instructions for the route, the drive misbehaved, dropping the passengers halfway. This happened during the month of Ramazan and the passengers were fasting.
Mehmood Khan lodged the complaint with the court after he didn’t receive a satisfactory response to his online compliant with Careem. He said that despite serving a legal notice to Careem, he didn’t receive a response from its management.
The defendant’s legal team maintained that the company isn’t responsible for the misbehavior of Careem Captains who were independent third-party service providers. They also requested the court to dismiss the case for being non-maintainable for hearing.
The legal team, however, conceded that Careem earned 25% of every Careem ride, following which the judge noted that Careem can be held accountable for any misbehavior on part of the drivers under the Section 2(q)(i) of the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014.
Great…. it happened only because the customer was itself advocate… :-D who listens to the general public…?
However its good step to sue creem because they are earning much from Pakistan
Careem being a subsidiary of Uber App. Taxi service are handling Karachi passengers as their slaves. Despite a subsidiary the parent group Uber which has majority market share, and 3rd class services, no ride sharing, no respect for elderly, incentive, susidy, for old women, for patient, for sick. Uber is a flag symbol of success worldwide. Pakistan Uber with its pride treats passengers as their beggers. I suggest the matter be investigated by the senior court as high court, and the attitutde of drivers.
I love this verdict!! High the one corporates in Pakistan are forced to improve their standards of consumer services!
Great news! Finally someone has been able to collar Careem top dogs.
The fine of Rs.50,000 is a symbol that nobody is above the law. Though Careem’s legal time tried to tinge the legal status of Careem as utilising the third party service through Careem Captains but they failed to detach themselves from a 25% benefit from each ride.
Convicting Careem also opens the doors for other customers who are mistreated or mishandled by Careem’s nasty service causing emotional or physical damage.
I do not think Careem will ever learn a lesson from this incident, therefore let’s be prepared to sue Careem in Consumer Courts if they violate the law.
Very good job done by the court !
Careem trying to be a part of monopoly market like k-electric.
Airlift service is very great service and i think every1 should use and promotr the #airlift service which is totaly Pakistani service.
Promote*
Good to know that court is asking companies to respect the rights of consumers.
But,
still waiting for any advocate to sue careen for the rights of their captains. To whom, even in the Court, he is treats like third party. Captains runs round the day to earn not only for himself but 25 – 40% for careem, but careem don’t owe them.