(Delivered on 08/02/2022)

PER SHRI A. Z. KHWAJA, HON’BLE JUDICIAL  MEMBER.

1.         Petitioner Nos. 1&2– Namo Developers  has  preferred  the present  revision petition challenging  the order dated 05/11/2018 passed by the  learned District Consumer  Commission , Nagpur  wherein  the learned District Consumer Commission, Nagpur  directed  the petitioner  to  make oral  submission  without  filing  the written notes of argument  by rejecting  their  application.   

2.         Short facts leading to  the revision petition  may be stated  briefly  as under,

            The petitioners  had  floated  a scheme  by  name  “Mahavir Nagri” at Mouza- Aajani, Tahsil- Kuhi, District Nagpur whereby  the plots  of various sizes were sold  to  the perspective buyers. The respondent /complainant  was  desirous  of purchasing  the plots  and so  he booked  two plots  at the rate of  Rs. 225/- per Sq. ft. and also  agreement  to sale was  executed  on 15/06/2015.  The respondent /complainant  had taken  a plea that  thereafter  he paid entire  amount by way of consideration  but no development  was made on the plots and  no sale deed  was executed  and so the respondent /complainant  preferred  the complaint  regarding  deficiency  in service under the Consumer Protection Act,1986.

3.         Petitioners /O.Ps.  appeared and filed their  written version  on record.  After the  filing of the necessary documents  on record, the learned District Consumer Commission, Nagpur fixed the matter  for final argument. The petitioners  have  taken  a plea that  the matter was fixed  for filing  written notes of argument  on 30/07/2018 and thereafter the matter  was fixed  on 25/09/2018 as well as on 05/11/2018 but due to unavoidable  circumstances  the present  petitioners /O.Ps were  unable  to file written notes of argument which  were already  prepared but on 05/11/2018 the learned District Consumer Commission, Nagpur passed an order directing  that the matter  shall be proceeded without  written  notes of argument.  The petitioners  thereafter  filed an application  on 31/12/2018 for setting aside  the earlier  order date 05/11/2018 but the same  was not accepted  on the ground that  the learned District Consumer Commission, Nagpur  has no such  powers and so the  petitioners were  left with  no remedy except  to approach  the State Consumer Commission and file the present  Revision  Petition.

4.         After filing of the present revision petition, notice came to be issued to the respondent/complainant.  We have heard Mr. Gaidhane, learned advocate for the petitioners as well as  Mr. Bhagwani, learned advocate for the respondent.  Mr. Gaidhane, learned advocate for the petitioners  has vehemently  submitted before us that  the petitioners could not place on record  the written notes of argument  on 25/09/2018 when the matter  was fixed for filing written notes of argument  and so the matter was again fixed  on 05/11/2018 for filing written  notes of argument . It is submitted  by  Mr. Gaidhane, learned advocate for the  petitioners  that  on 05/11/2018 he could not remain present  due to  death of  his relative  and also could not reach  in time.  According to Mr. Gaidhane, learned advocate for the petitioners  the lapses on the part of the petitioners  in not filing  the written notes of argument  on record  was not intentional  and due  opportunity  needs to be  granted to  file the written notes of argument  on record.  Mr. Gaidhane,  learned advocate for the petitioners  has also drawn  our  attention  to copy of order sheet dated 05/11/2018. Bare perusal  of the record  copies  which are  filed on record   go to show  that  sufficient  opportunities  were granted to the  present  petitioners  to file  written notes of argument but  the  same were  not  availed  of by the  petitioners.  

5.         We have also heard the learned  advocate for the respondent  in the matter and also  perused  the record.  After going  through  the entire  record  we feel  that  due opportunity  needs to be granted  to the petitioners to submit his  written notes of argument  which were  mandatory  in nature.  However, said opportunity can be granted only after saddling cost upon the petitioners and so we proceed to pass the following order.

ORDER

i.          Revision Petition No. RP/19/10 is hereby partly allowed. 

ii.          Order  dated 05/11/2018 passed by the learned District Consumer  Commission, Nagpur  is hereby  set aside  and petitioners  are  permitted  to file  written notes of argument  after  imposing  cost of Rs. 2500/- to be paid to the respondent  within   a period of  two weeks from  receipt of copy of order.

iii.         Petitioners  are permitted to  file written notes of argument  on the next date fixed  in the matter  before  the  learned District Consumer Commission, Nagpur, after which  the matter shall proceed  according to law.

iv.        Copy of order be furnished to both the parties free of cost.