In the respective case, the travel agent had promised delivery within a week by air whereas by sea it would have taken 25 to 30 days. However, the goods were delivered by the airline after 45 days. Therefore the Supreme Court found nothing wrong with an earlier consumer court order to compensate the consumer, as an agent has the inherent power to promise on behalf of the principal, observes Chartered Accountant and Columnist S Muralidharan.