(Delivered on 22/01/2019)

PER SHRI B.A. SHAIKH, HON’BLE PRESIDING MEMBER.

1.         This revision petition  is directed  against the order dated 15/05/2018 passed by the District Consumer Forum, Nagpur in consumer complaint  No. 614/2017 by which the  complaint is proceeded exparte against the  original opposite party/petitioner herein due to its remaining  absent after  service of  notice (exhibit No. 7-B). We have heard  advocate Mr. Swapnil Shingane for the petitioner  and Advocate Mr. Kandhari appearing for the respondent Nos. 1&2. We have also  perused the record  of  the revision petition.

2.         The learned advocate of the petitioner  submitted that  the  petitioner had engaged  an advocate after  service of notice of the complaint  but advocate of the petitioner  failed to appear  before the Forum  on given date due to  wrong mentioning of  given date  in his diary. Hence,  the Forum proceeded exparte  against  the O.P./ petitioner  as per  impugned order. He further submitted that  when  O.P./petitioner  appeared on next date of hearing on 06/07/2018 the District Consumer Forum had already  proceeded  exparte and  therefore no application  could be filed  before the Forum.  He also submitted that  this revision petition  was  then filed on 04/08/2018 for setting aside  the said  order.  The learned advocate of the petitioner  also submitted that  to show the bonafides, the petitioner  has already  prepared  reply to the complaint  of which copy is also  filed on record. Hence, he requested that  in the interest of  justice the  impugned order may be set aside  and  permission may be granted to the petitioner  to file  reply to the complaint  to contest it.

3.         On the other hand,  the learned advocate of the  original complainants /respondents herein  strongly opposed  the request made by the  learned advocate of the petitioner. He submitted that  notice of the complaint  was served to the O.P./petitioner  and next date was fixed for  appearance  and for filing reply  to the O.P./petitioner  on 16/04/2018. But  O.P./petitioner  did not appear on that date. Hence, complaint  was adjourned till 15/05/2018 by the Forum. The O.P./petitioner   on 15/05/2018 also  did not appear. Thereafter also the  consumer complaint  was adjourned to  06/07/2018. He also submitted that  thereafter the compliant  came to be  adjourned from time to time  till 01/11/2018 for final hearing and  that  now the complaint is listed  on 25/01/2019 for final hearing.  He also submitted that  the advocate of the O.P./petitioner  has not filed any document before this Commission  to show that  the wrong date  was mentioned  in his diary and therefore, he could not appear before  the Forum. The learned advocate of the original  complainants /respondents herein  further submitted that  if the impugned order is set aside  then  the decision of the complaint will be  prolonged  and respondent No. 1   herein  is  senior citizen.  Hence, he requested  that  revision petition  may be dismissed.

4.         We find that though  the petitioner  ought to have  appeared before  the Forum on 16/04/2018 and thereafter  on 15/05/2018,  but  it failed to appear on  both the said dates. The reason given  for non appearance  on the said dates  is not supported by any documents  showing that  in the diary of advocate of the  petitioner,  some wrong  date was mentioned.

5.         However,  it is necessary to give one opportunity  to the petitioner  to file reply to the consumer complaint  so that  complaint can be decided  on contest.  Considering the bonafides on the part of the  petitioner  that reply which is to be filed  to the said complaint  is ready  and  further considering  that the consumer complaint  can be  decided expeditiously,  we are inclined to  allow the  petitioner  as  under.

ORDER

i.          The revision petition is allowed.

ii.          The impugned order dated 15/05/2018 passed in consumer complaint No. 614/2017 against  the petitioner/original O.P. is set aside  subject to payment  of cost of Rs.10,000/- by the petitioner /original O.P.  to the  respondents herein /original complainants. The said cost  be paid  by the petitioner  to the respondents herein  on or before  05/03/2019. It be paid  to the respondent No. 1 on behalf of both respondents by sending  demand draft of Rs. 10,000/- drawn  in  her name  by Registered Post A.D.

iii.         The District Consumer Forum below shall verify  the payment of cost as above on 05/03/2019 and if the said cost  is  paid  as above  then the District Consumer Forum below shall accept  on record  the reply of the petitioner  on 05/03/2019.

iv.        The petitioner shall  produce the documentary evidence  for the payment of the aforesaid cost to the  respondents as above.

v.         The petitioner  is at also  liberty  to deposit  the said cost  with the District Consumer Forum by drawing demand draft  in the name of the Registrar of the District Consumer Forum and if  said  cost is deposited  then  respondent No. 1 herein  will be at  liberty to withdraw  that  amount.

vi.        If the  petitioner /original  O.P. fails to  pay or deposit  the said  cost  as above   on or before  05/03/2019, then  the revision  petition  shall be treated  as dismissed.

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