Gym closes 15 minutes earlier than advertised time, Punjab man quits six-month membership within two months; consumer court orders gym to refund and pay Rs 6,500

An Amritsar man who paid Rs 5,760 for a six-month gym membership left the fitness centre within two months after complaining about early closures, a non-functional steam bath and inadequate facilities. He subsequently joined another gym, spending Rs 15,000, and approached the consumer commission after his former gym refused to refund his membership fee.

District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Amritsar, has directed the gym, M/s Oceanic Gym, to refund Rs 3,500 with 6% annual interest, pay Rs 2,000 as compensation and another Rs 1,000 towards litigation expenses.

The commission partly allowed the complaint on October 21, 2026. President Jagdishwar Kumar Chopra and member Mandeep Kaur passed the order.

Man leaves gym within two months of six-month membership

According to the complaint, Bharigu Sharma purchased a six-month membership at Oceanic Gym on November 7, 2024, paying Rs 5,760. He was allotted membership number 2266.

Sharma alleged that the gym had assured him of hygienic conditions, professional training, safety arrangements and facilities such as a steam bath.

However, he claimed that the gym frequently closed before its advertised time. The lights were switched off prematurely, while the steam bath facility allegedly remained non-functional. He also raised concerns about equipment sanitation and the availability of emergency medical assistance.

Sharma said he could not continue using the gym and joined another fitness centre on January 27, 2025, paying Rs 15,000.

After his requests for a refund went unanswered, he approached the consumer commission seeking relief.

Gym says it operated until 10 pm

Oceanic Gym denied the allegations and argued that Sharma had joined after attending trial sessions and being satisfied with its facilities.

The gym maintained that it operated until 10 pm and that its winding-up process began at 9:45 pm. During this period, music and lights were switched off. It relied on notices displayed at the premises to support its position.

The company also submitted a steam bath register and affidavits from other members to counter the allegations about the facility.

On the complaints regarding safety and sanitation, the gym said its proprietor, Dr Parminder Singh Sachdeva, was himself a doctor. It also pointed out that the gym operated on the first floor of his dental clinic, where four doctors remained available throughout the day.

The gym submitted photographs of its first-aid kit, safety charts and cleaning arrangements, arguing that it had maintained the necessary facilities and that there was no deficiency in service.

Commission questions early shutdown despite advertised timings

The commission examined the membership documents, payment receipt, affidavits and evidence submitted by both sides.

It noted that the gym had itself admitted that its winding-up process started at 9:45 pm, even though its advertised closing time was 10 pm.

The bench held that members who had paid for the service were entitled to use the essential gym facilities during the advertised operating hours. Notices about the winding-up process did not automatically release the gym from this obligation, particularly when there was no convincing evidence that the restriction had been specifically disclosed to and accepted by Sharma when he purchased the membership.

The commission also said that the fact that Sharma had attended trial sessions before joining did not remove the gym's responsibility to maintain the promised standard of service throughout the membership period.

It noted that Sharma had used the gym for approximately two months before moving to another fitness centre in January 2025.

The commission concluded that the gym had failed to establish that it provided its facilities in accordance with the assurances made at the time of membership. It held that the failure amounted to deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Gym directed to pay refund, compensation and costs

The commission partly allowed Sharma's complaint and directed Oceanic Gym to refund Rs 3,500.

It arrived at this amount after deducting charges for the two months during which Sharma had used the membership from the original Rs 5,760 payment.

The gym must also pay 6% annual interest on the refund amount, calculated from the date the complaint was filed until realisation.

In addition, it has been directed to pay Rs 2,000 as compensation for the inconvenience caused by its failure to address Sharma's grievance and Rs 1,000 towards litigation expenses.

The total of the refund, compensation and litigation costs comes to Rs 6,500, excluding interest. The gym has been given 45 days from receiving a copy of the order to comply. If it fails to do so, Sharma can seek execution of the order through the commission.