Sri S.K.Sahoo,President.

             This  is   a  petition filed by the  complainant U/s. 35  of Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

2.       The  case of the  complainant is  that she is  a permanent resident of Vill- Paikpurunakote of Angul  district . The opp.parties   being  the  representative  of the Co-operative Society,  carrying its  business at Angul    . In the  year  2018   the complainant   has opened   accounts   bearing No. 12537402035  for  Rs.18,050.00 and No. 12537401955 for Rs.3,350.00  to earn his livelihood   under “ GOLDEN 24”  scheme for 24 months   with  the opp.parties   at their  Angul branch  office .    Certificates were also issued  by the opp.parties  in  favour  of the complainant  bearing No. 438000809071 & 438000809217.     The  said  deposit   were to be matured on  31.05.2020,when the   opp.parties   are   liable  to pay  the maturity  amounts of  Rs.22,642.00 & Rs.4,202.00  in toto Rs. 26,844.00  along with other benefits. After  the maturity period  the opp.parties  did not   pay the  amount  due to the  complainant  inspite of  his  several  approach   to the  opp.parties  . It is    further  alleged that   when  he wanted to   submit   a written application to opp.party No.1  he  did not  receive the same and  refused to   disburse  the  amount  due to the  complainant. Due  to such  conduct of the opp.parties- who  have adopted  unfair trade practice,  the  complainant  was   harassed  and  subjected to   mental  agony. There is  gross  deficiency  in service  of the  opp.parties. Finding  no   other  way the complainant has filed the  present  complaint  before  this  Commission  for  necessary  direction  to the opp.parties to  disburse the  amount  due   to  him along  with other  reliefs.

3.       Notices  were  issued  to all the opp.parties through  R.P with A.D  on 14.08.2020 .The   Opp.party No.2   did not  appear  inspite  of notice .Opp.party No.1 entered  his appearance on 16.01.2023 .No written statement was filed  by  the opp.parties  .

          However the Learned  Counsel  for the opp.party No.1  challenged the maintainability  of the proceeding  before this Commission by relying on a decision in Revision petition No. 4871 of 2012 M/s.Anjana Abraham,Chembethil Vrs. M.D,The Koothattukulam Farmers Service Co-operative Bank  passed by the  Honorable National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi  . On the  other hand  the  learned  counsel for the  complainant  relied  on  decision of  the Hon’ble  Learned  State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh  in Ram KanwarVrs. Sahara India PariwarPvt. Ltd.  on 28.09.2021, the  judgement  passed  by the  Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil  Appeal  No. 64  of 2010  Virender Jain Vrs. AlaknandaCoopertative  Group Housing Society  Ltd. & others, Civil Appeal No. 92  of 1998, The Secretary,Thirumurugan Co-operative Agricultural Credit Society  Vrs. M.Lalitha  (dead) through L.Rs. & Others and  submitted that the  complainant is  a  consumer and  the present  proceeding is maintainable  before this Commission.  On perusal of the judgement relied on by both the parties it is clear that the  complainant  is a consumer and present proceeding is maintainable  before this Commission.

4.       From the  complaint petition  it is clear that on  31.05.2018  complainant has deposited an amount of Rs. 18,050.00 & Rs.3,350.00   with the opp.parties and obtained Certificates No. 438000809071 & 438000809217 .  The photo copies  of the  said  certificates  are available  in the  case  record. From the  complaint petition  coupled  with  certificate   granted  by the opp.parties  it is  clear that the  complainant has deposited an amount of  Rs. 18,050.00 & Rs.3,350.00      with  the opp.parties which are to be matured on 31.05.2020. Admittedly  the  opp.parties  have not  paid the  matured    amount    to the  complainant  after  the maturity period  i.e on 31.05.20020 . 

          It is   clear  from  the materials  on record  that the  complainant  has  deposited the  aforesaid   amount to  get  the  matured  amount  and the  opp.parties  have accepted  those  deposits in course  of  their  business  to earn  profit. The  aforesaid  deposits were  made by the  complainant  to earn his livelihood. It is  further  clear   from the  materials  on record that the  complainant  is  entitled  to get the  matured  amount  along with  interest. Due  to  non-payment of the  dues  to the  complainant  after maturity he sustained loss and  subjected    to  mental agony.  The  opp.parties have adopted unfair  trade practice  and they are   jointly and  severally  liable  for   payment of the  matured amount  along with   interest to the  complainant.

6.       Hence order :-

 : O R D E R :

          The  case  be  and   same  is  allowed  in part on  contest  against the  opp.party No.1 and  exparte  against the  opp.party No.2 & 3. The opp.parties  are  jointly and severally liable   for   payment to the  complainant. The  opp.parties are directed to pay   Rs. 26,844.00  (Rupees  Twenty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred  Forty-Four ) only  along with interest @12% p.a from 31.05.2020     until payment is made. The above opp.parties  are also directed to pay  an amount of Rs. 15,000.00 (Rupees Fifteen Thousand)only as compensation and Rs.5000.00 (Rupees Five Thousand) only  towards  litigation expenses. The  opp.parties  are  further  directed to comply the  order  within  a period  of one  month of   receipt of this  order, failing  which   they are liable  to pay penal interest @ 16% per annum,  on the  amount  to be paid to  the  complainant.