NEW DELHI: Motor cycle maker Hero Honda has been ordered by the apex consumer court to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 to a purchaser for selling him a bike over a decade ago by falsely representing the mileage of the two-wheeler.

"... (Hero Honda) had indulged in unfair trade practice... it has to be held that the company falsely represented that the motorcycle sold by them would give a mileage of 80 km per litre of petrol when it was not so.." the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) said in its order, adding that it was "deficiency in service".

Commission president Justice D P Wadhwa, members Rajyalakshmi Rao and B K Taimni also directed Hero Honda not to make such claims henceforth unless "any such advertisement clearly states as to how such a claim has been made and what are the standard conditions."

"Advertisement should not mislead and should give clear picture of the quality of the goods sold," the Commission said.

Complainant M R Ramesh said he had purchased Hero Honda CD-100 bike on February 26, 1993 after being lured by the company's advertisements besides getting an assurance that the vehicle would give a mileage of 80 km per litre of petrol.

Holding that the District Forum and State Commission had "misconstrued" the case by dismissing the complaint thus leading to miscarriage of justice, NCDRC said it was its duty to help the poor consumer pitted against a large corporation.

Noting that Ramesh does not know English and that he himself appeared in both lower consumer courts in Karnataka without the help of any lawyer, the Commission said," his complaint is enough to tell us as to what his grievance is and what he wants… he said he was getting 22 km less mileage than what was promised".