“We direct Dr Batra’s Positive Health Clinic to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to the complainant for the deficiency on its part, which caused harassment. The amount also includes the refund of doctor’s fee paid by the complainant,” West Delhi Consumer Forum president J P Sharma said.

Manish Dubey, who lives in Indra Vihar, had said he was not told about his disease and never given any prescription during his year-long treatment at the clinic.

Drawn by the clinic’s claims that it cures “chronic diseases”, Dubey, who was suffering from backache and stiff neck, went to its Rajouri Garden branch in August 2004. He was asked to take medicines for a year after paying Rs 5,500.

Dubey got suspicious after his condition deteriorated despite taking regular medicines.

During the trial, the clinic claimed that the patient was suffering from Lumbar Spondylosis, a spinal chord disease, and that he was told that the treatment would be symptomatic and would lessen his pain without curing the ailment.

“Just for symptomatic relief, the patient would not have continued the treatment for one year, and the clinic should not have asked him to continue the treatment for the period in such circumstances,” the forum said.