Overview

• The Mumbai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directed Apple India and Croma to jointly refund ₹65,264 to the legal heirs of a deceased iPhone 11 owner after a persistent microphone defect went unresolved.
• The commission applied the principle of vicarious liability to hold both manufacturer and retailer responsible for ensuring the product’s serviceability.
• Apple’s authorised service centre had rejected warranty repairs on grounds of unspecified “unauthorised modifications,” a rationale the panel found unsupported by evidence.
• The refund must accrue 6% annual interest from August 6, 2021, the date the original complaint was lodged.
• Heirs are also to receive ₹15,000 for mental agony and ₹2,000 for legal expenses, with enforcement of the ruling still pending.