Man paid for Israel job, got no employment; consumer panel orders Rs 2 lakh compensation
A Kerala consumer commission ordered a refund of Rs 3.7 lakh and Rs 2 lakh compensation. Two individuals promised employment in Israel and took the money. Repeated postponements and fake travel documents constituted unfair trade practice. The commission noted the lack of evidence for genuine arrangements. The accused failed to appear and contest the complaint.
In 2022, Joseph Manuel approached Reji C Varkey and Preetha Alex, who claimed they could secure him employment in Israel within three months to one year. Manuel agreed to pay Rs 3.7 lakh for processing, placement and service charges. However, the payments were made to three individuals over the course of two years, despite repeated assurances of employment and travel arrangements.
Each time, dates for departure to Israel were given and then postponed or cancelled. In July 2023, they allegedly provided a flight reservation confirmation, which Manuel later claimed was fake. After the Israel conflict began in October 2023, they told him travel and employment would be difficult due to security concerns. Despite this, they continued to give him dates that were later changed.
Eventually, Manuel received no employment and the opposite parties stopped responding to his calls and messages. He then filed a complaint with the consumer commission, seeking the refund of Rs 3.7 lakh, along with compensation, costs and other reliefs. The commission held that the repeated postponements, failure to provide employment, and the alleged fake flight reservation constituted deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
It also awarded Rs 2 lakh in compensation. The commission ordered Reji and Preetha to pay the full amount within 30 days, or face execution proceedings.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
