SC: Concept of Joint Hindu Family does not extend to treatment of pregnant sister-in-law

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The Supreme Court observed that a Karta of Joint Hindu Family cannot file a consumer complaint in respect of lack of service on part of the hospital regarding the treatment provided to his pregnant sister-in-law.

Jaganarayan Lal v. Doctor Girija Tiwari

The Division Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice V Ramasubramanian observed that the concept of Joint Hindu Family does not extend to the treatment of pregnant sister-in-law.

In this case, Jaganarayan a Karta of a Joint Hindu Family filed a consumer complaint against a hospital regarding the lack of services provided to her pregnant sister-in-law. He filed the complaint on behalf of her sister-in-law as being a Karta of the Joint Hindu Family. The complaint was dismissed by the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission.

“The brother-in-law of a pregnant woman would not be a beneficiary of any services rendered by the respondent. There is no allegation that he has paid or promised any consideration for engaging the services of the respondent. The only assertion in the complaint is that he is the ‘Karta’ of a Joint Hindu Family, therefore, he is entitled to file a complaint on account of the alleged deficiency of service by the respondent.” the court noted.

Therefore, the court observed that the concept of Joint Hindu Family does not extend to the treatment of a pregnant sister-in-law and hence the court dismissed the petition.

Read Order