Orissa

Rayagada

CC/393/2016

Sri Debraj Naik - Complainant(s)

Versus

Archit Naik - Opp.Party(s)

Self

05 Apr 2018

ORDER

DISTRICT   CONSUMER  DISPUTES REDRESSAL    FORUM, RAYAGADA,

STATE:  ODISHA.

C.C. Case  No. 393/ 2016.                                        Date.   5    .    4    . 2018.

P R E S E N T .

Dr. Aswini  Kumar Mohapatra,                                                   President

Sri GadadharaSahu,                                                                        Member.

Smt.PadmalayaMishra,.                                                                                Member

 

Sri Debraj Naik,  S/O: Late Jayaram Naik,  At/Po: Olada, via:Kasinagar,Dist:Gajapati., State:  Odisha.                                                             …….Complainant

Vrs.

1. Sri Archit Naik,  S/O:Late Londha Naik, Vill: Dudkabal, Po:Tikiri, Dist:Rayagada.

 

For the Complainant:- Self.

For the O.P:- Set exparte.

JUDGMENT

The  present disputes emerges out of the grievance raised in the  complaint petition filed by the above named complainant alleging deficiency in service  against  afore mentioned O.Ps for  non refund of advanced  amount a sum of Rs.62,000/-  towards  promissory  Note.

On being noticed  the O.P   neither entering in to appear before the forum nor filed their  written version inspite of more than  10 adjournments has been given  to them. Complainant consequently filed his memo and prayer to set exparte of the O.Ps.  Observing lapses of around 1 years  for which the objectives  of the legislature of the C.P. Act going to be destroyed to the prejudice of the interest of the complainant.  Hence after hearing  the  counsel for the complainant set the case  exparte against the O.Ps. The action of the O.Ps is against the principles of  natural justice as envisaged  under section  13(2) (b)(ii) of the Act. Hence the O.P. set exparte  as the statutory period  for filing of  written version was over to close the case with in the time frame permitted by the C.P. Act.

We therefore proceed to dispose of the case, on its merit. We perused the complaint petition and the document filed by the complainant.

Heard from the complainant. Perused the record.

                                                         FINDINGS.

While considering  arguments  from the complainant it is admitted  case that the complainant   had entered  into  an promissory Note  Dated.     Ist. September, 2013 with the O.P.(Copies of the  promissory note is in the file which is marked as Annexure-I). For legal necessity i.e. for medical expenses  on Dt. 1.9.2013 the complainant had paid  an amount of Rs. 62,000/- to the O.P. as hand loan  for which  the receipt of the same with the presence of the  attesting witnesses and promised  by the O.P. to  repay the same within  3 months  period to  the complainant as per demand.

In those circumstances with the cause of action arose in this case out of the contract-cum-agreement between  the parties  under Annexure-I  and for the breach  of the same as on the part of the O.P.  and those problems can not be solved by the Consumer Forum even though the  prima facie seems to have proved  deficiency in not-performing the  Promissory Note  by the O.P.

For the breach of agreement  and violation the  Consumer  forum   can not be the proper forum  to decide those disputes  arising out of the  contract  and on the basis of agreement towards promissory  note, the complaint  can not be maintainable  before the District Consumer Forum.  Further  the above transactions was for  commercial  purpose.  However, it is left open to the complainant to seek his reliefs before the appropriate forum.

Admittedly, in the case at hand, the complainant has not availed any service nor purchased any goods from the O.P. for any consideration, as such, he cannot be a ‘consumer’ under them and he has no locus standi to file this present complaint before the forum since the matter is civil in nature, this forum cannot adjudicate this case.  Only because the Consumer Protection Act is a social benefit oriented Act, it cannot be  said that any body who files a case before the District Forum,  as the case may be he can be  a ‘consumer’.

                        On perusal of the  complaint petition this  forum observed  that the matters relating to the  non refund of  advance amount  towards promissory Note  will not come under the purview of the C.P. Act, 1986.  Where there is a special remedy is available to the parties  at Civil Court  provided by the legislature to the complainant  the forum did not inclined to invoke its jurisdiction illegally  to adjudicate the matter.  Hence  this forum has lack of jurisdiction to entertain the  above dispute  and adjudicate  the same under the provisions  of the C.P. Act, 1986.  The case is not maintainable in view of the above discussion.

The  parties  are at their liberty  to agitate  their grievance before the appropriate court of law and not before this forum  being  nullified the grievances of the complainant. We  do not  think  proper to go  into merit of this case.

Hence, the claim of the   complainant can not be accepted under the provisions of the C.P. Act. It is open to  complainant   ordinary remedy to approach proper forum.       

So  to meet the  ends of justice    the following order is passed.

 

ORDER.

            In resultant the complaint petition stands  dismissed. The complainant  is free to approach the court of competent  having  its jurisdiction.   Parties are left to bear their own cost.  Accordingly the case  is  disposed of.

            The time spent before consumer forum shall be set-off  by  the  authority, where the proceedings are taken up, as per provision of Section-14 of Limitation Act  held in the case of Laxmi Engineering works Vrs. P.S.G.Industrial Institute reported  in SCC 1995(3) page No. 583.

            Order copies be served  to the parties free of cost. 

Dictated and corrected by me

Pronounced on this                 5 ^th.   Day of   April,  2018.

 

                Member.                                             Member.                                                             President