(Delivered on 08/03/2017)

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

1.      Advocate Mrs. A.S. Athalye is present for the petitioner. Advocate  Mr. A.S. Baghel   appeared for the respondent No.1 and filed his  power. The respondent No. 2 is absent  though served  with notice as seen from the  acknowledgment  received.  The petition is  proceeded  exparte against  the respondent No. 2. Perusal of the record & proceedings of this petition  shows that  the copy of the entire  complaint  compilation  was received  by the advocate of  petitioner /O.P  on 22/11/2016 and the  petitioner’s advocate  wanted  to file  reply within  45 days  from 22/11/2016  i.e. on 02/01/2017. However, the Forum did not allow the O.P. No. 1/petitioner to file that reply and rejected that application  counting  the 45 days  from  the date of  first appearance  of the  O.P. No. 1. The learned advocate of the  O.P.No. 1/petitioner  submitted that  the  material  documents were not  received  from complainant by the O.P.No.1 at the time  of first appearance  before the Forum. Hence, there was no question  of filing written version /reply.  She further  submitted that  the O.P. No. 1  had also  moved  an application  on 07/09/2016 before the Forum and hence on 06/10/2016 direction was given  to the complainant /respondent No. 1 to supply compilation  and accordingly  the documents  were supplied  on 22/11/2016. Therefore, she submitted  that  as the Forum  erred in  counting  the 45 days  from putting  first appearance before the  Forum by the O.P. No. 1, the  impugned order may be set aside  and reply of the O.P. No. 1 may be accepted on record of complaint.  

 2.      Advocate Mr. Baghel  who appeared  for the original  complainant/ respondent No. 1 herein  also accepted  that  the entire   compilation  of the  documents  was   handed over  by complainant to  O.P.No. 1 on 22/11/2016. Therefore we are satisfied  that  as the  reply  was filed before the Forum within 45 days  from 22/11/2016, the  Forum erred in  not accepting  the reply and proceeding  without  reply of petitioner.  In the result,  the  revision petition  deserves to be allowed.

ORDER

i.        The revision petition is allowed.

 ii.      The impugned order dated 03/01/2017 passed in CC/280/2016  by the Forum is hereby set aside.

 iii.      The O.P. No. 1 is permitted to place on record the reply  to the complaint.

 iv.      The Forum  shall proceed with  complaint  in accordance with law.

 v.       No order as to cost in  revision petition.

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