New Delhi, April 10: Tata Motors, one of the largest automobile manufacturer of the country, has been directed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to pay Rs 2.25 lakh as compensation to a customer, Sunil Kumar, for taking nearly two years to repair and return a faulty truck, sold to him.

The apex consumer forum has given the order on a plea of  Tata Motors challenging the verdict of Himachal Pradesh State Consumer Commission which had held the truck to be defective and had asked it to refund the cost of the vehicle or replace it.

"In our view, since respondent/complain (customer) has not paid repair charges of the vehicle but was deprived of its use from October 26, 2005 to August 24, 2007, we consider it appropriate to award a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to be paid by the petitioner (Tata Motors) and its dealer jointly and severally to respondent/complainant (Sunil Kumar)."

"The amount of compensation as also the cost of Rs 25,000 be paid within a period of six weeks from the date of the order," said the NCDRC bench presided by Justice R C Jain.

However, the NCDRC canceled the earlier order of the state consumer commission that there was a manufacturing defect in the vehicle, saying that it (state commission) did not obtain an expert opinion.

"In our view, the state commission appears to have abruptly rushed to the conclusion that this is a case of manufacturing defect," it said.

Sunil Kumar, belongs from Shimla, had not paid the repair charges to Tata motors on the ground that the vehicle was under warranty period.