The Akademi was directed to pay Rs 25,000 as compensation for deficiency in service and unfair trade practices and Rs 2,200 for cost of litigation.

The consumer forum pulled up the Akademi for damaging the work of Parminder Singh, a resident of Khuda Ali Sher, which was displayed at an Akademi exhibition.

In his complaint, Singh said that in 2006 he had applied for participating in the Akademi’s annual exhibition in Bhopal and his work, Twins-I, was selected. He was asked to handover his submission duly packaged and was assured that the value of each insured article was fixed at Rs 25,000.

Singh further stated that after the exhibition, the Akademi returned the art work to him via courier on January 10, 2007.

However, when he opened the package, he found his work broken, alleged Singh, who immediately wrote to the Akademi about the damage.

Though Singh was assured that his claim will be released and a surveyor was appointed in April 2007, he never received any compensation, said the complainant.

In a written reply, Lalit Kala Akademi said the complainant’s work reached the venue of exhibition in a broken condition because of improper packing. The body had, however, displayed the art work ‘in the interest of the artist and for its profound compassion’ after it glued back the piece of art using an adhesive.

The consumer forum, headed by president Jagroop Singh Mahal, noted that the Akademi has not produced any document to suggest that the object was received in a broken condition. “This ground appears to have been concocted by them after the object was damaged in their office,” stated the forum, which has directed the Akademi to pay compensation through their secretary.

The forum also noted that the Akademi has produced copies of the letters indicating that the art object was insured for Rs 25,000 with the Oriental Insurance Company, with whom a claim was also lodged for compensation.