
Renjith R from Ernakulam, Kerala, never imagined that he would one day wear the robes of a lawyer and win cases in defense of consumer rights. The 38-year-old Renjith, hailing from Aluva, has faced numerous challenges on his journey, which began when he became a litigant against HDFC Ltd. This financial institution had denied him a home loan after charging him a processing fee of Rs 3,090.
On February 17, 2024, Renjith took an oath as a lawyer at the Kerala High Court. His pledge was not only to be a lawyer, but also to be a champion for the voiceless, tirelessly working to create a fairer and more equitable society for all.
At the time, Renjith was working as an accountant in a small supermarket when an executive from HDFC Ltd approached him in 2013, promising him a loan to fulfill his dream of building a house. However, his dreams were shattered when HDFC not only denied him the loan, but also refused to refund the processing fee, making the situation even more distressing. This setback ignited a fire within Renjith to seek justice by taking the matter to a consumer court.
“When I requested a refund of the processing fee after they rejected my application, they treated me rudely and claimed there was no provision for a refund. I decided to legally fight against them because their behavior was completely unacceptable and I felt cheated,” Renjith told “Open Digest.”
Despite being only a commerce graduate, Renjith learned about consumer laws and presented his case in court on his own. “I saw it as a challenge to fight against the injustice. I referred to numerous law books and previous cases. During each hearing, I presented my arguments, citing relevant laws and past judgments. Finally, I was able to secure a favorable verdict against HDFC Ltd in the district consumer disputes redressal forum,” he stated.
Although HDFC Ltd appealed against the decision before the Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Renjith argued his case and emerged victorious. “During this time, I realized that if I could learn the law, I could help people obtain justice, particularly in consumer cases. So, in 2019, I enrolled in a three-year LLB course,” he explained.
Even while studying for his LLB, Renjith continued to fight against companies that violated consumer rights. He single-handedly fought a case against Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited, which had refused to reimburse the medical expenses for his wife’s treatment on August 4, 2022. Despite submitting all the necessary claim documents, the company allegedly failed to process his claim. The Ernakulam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, led by its president D B Binu, issued a judgment in favor of Renjith, directing the insurance company to reimburse the medical bill of Rs. 1.33 lakh and pay compensation of Rs. 40,000.
“These companies believe they have the resources to exploit ordinary people. I am now even more dedicated to taking on cases of consumer rights violations,” Renjith added.
His journey, from being denied a home loan to becoming an advocate for consumer rights, serves as a reminder that every challenge presents an opportunity for personal growth and positive change.
God bless you
Great story. I really appreciate from bottom of my heart his extra ordinary efforts. I too would like to take his assistance and study/work hard myself for such problems.
Hats off to Mr. Renjithji.
God bless dear Renjith ji.
Hope you will continue to go ahead for other needy people as well.
Wish to approach you.
All the best ahead.
Really dedicated real life hero. Salute to you