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 he is  a permanent resident of Vill.-Nuahata, Patanasahi of  Angul District. The opp.parties are  running  a  Co-operative Society in the  jurisdiction of Angul District along with other places to  earn profit.  Being  influenced  by the  opp.parties and  their  agent   on 16.11.2016   he has  deposited  an  amount   of  Rs.16,000.00  and  Rs.21,000.00  by opening accounts No. 12536204921 & 12536204922 under “SAHARA A.SELECT”  scheme for 18 months. The  aforesaid  deposits  were made by the  complainant  to  earn  his livelihood. The  certificate Nos.925003938442 and 925003938443 were issued to the  complainant by the opp.parties .The  complainant is  to  get  interest on the maturity amount  after those  accounts were matured  on 15.05.2018. After the  maturity  the  complainant  approached  the opp.parties for payment   of the matured amount but they  failed  to comply  the  request of the  complainant. Due to  inaction of the opp.parties the  complainant  sustained  loss, damage , harassment and  mental agony. Hence this  case.

3.       Notices were issued to all the opp.parties through Regd.post with A.D on 04.11.2022 .Inspite of  such  notice opp.parties did not file  their  show cause.   However, only  on 11.01.2023  the Learned Counsel  Sri D.K.Pani &  others  filed  V.nama  with  a petition on behalf  of opp.party No.1, challenging  the maintainability of the present  proceeding.

4.       It is the  specific  plea   of the opp.party No.1 that the  complainant   is a member of   Sahara Co-operative Society Ltd , as  such he   is not a consumer as described  under C.P.Act, 2019. He has  relied  on a decision of Hon’ble National  Commission, New Delhi passed in Revision Petition No. 4871  of 2012  namely M/S. Anjana Abraham ChembethilVrs.  Managing Director, Koothattukulam Farmers Services Co-operative  Bank.

          On the  other hand  the learned counsel for the complainant relied  on the following decisions :-

1. Ram Kanwar Vrs. Sahara India Pariwar Pvt Ltd., of  Hon’ble State Commission, U.T, Chhandigarh , passed on 28.09.2021.
2. The  judgement passed on 21.07.2020 by  Hon’ble National Commission, New Delhi  in Revision Petition No. 4044  of 2014 in Branch Manager, Sahara India Vrs. Raj Kumari Devi .
3. The  judgement  passed  by the Hon’ble  Supreme Court of India  in Civil Appeal No. 64/2010 ,65/2010,66/2010,67/2010 and 68/2010 in the case of   Virendra Jain Vrs. Alaknanda Co-operative  Group Housing Society  Ltd. and  others  passed  on 23.04.2013.
4. The  judgement  passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal No.  92 of 1998   passed on 11.12.2003  in the  case of  The Secretary,Thirumurugan Co-operative Agricultural Credit Society  Vrs. M.Lalitha (dead) through LRs. &Ors.

5.       Perused the  judgements relied  on by both the parties. On perusal of the   photo copies of  certificates  filed by  the  complainant it is  clear  that the  complainant is  a member  of  the co-operative  society  of the opp.parties  business organization. It is  also clear  from the  evidence  on  record  that the  complainant has  deposited  different   amounts  and  certificates  were issued in  his  favour  by the  society of the opp.parties. Even though  he  is  a member of  the society of the opp.parties he  has invested   certain amounts to earn  the maturity  amount  on  his deposits. From the  judgment  pronounced  by the  different  Commissions and  the Hon’ble Supreme Court relied on  by the complainant it is  crystal  clear  that the  complainant  is  a  consumer   U/s. 2(7)  of C.P.Act, 2019. So the  plea  of  the opp.parties   that the  present  complaint  petition  filed by the  complainant is   not   maintainable    is  not  acceptable  at all. So  the  present  complaint  filed by the  complainant is   maintainable  before  this Commission.

6.       All the  issues  are  taken up together  for  disposal of the  complaint  filed by the  complainant. The  complainant in his  complaint petition supported  with affidavit  alleged that he has  deposited an amount of Rs. Rs.16,000.00   and Rs.21,000.00. Admittedly  the  opp.parties have  granted  certificates No. 925003938442 and  925003938443   in favour of the  complainant. The  complainant has filed the   photo copies  of those accounts  which  shows that the  amount  deposited  by  him , date of deposits, date of maturity and the   amount matured. From the materials on record it is  clear that    the  complainant has deposited the  aforesaid  amount with the opp.parties to  earn his  livelihood. It  is also  clear that the  certificates  were issued by the opp.parties and after maturity the opp.parties failed  to   pay  the  matured  amount  on the date of maturity. The  complainant is   entitled  for the matured amount along with interest  from the date of maturity   on each accounts. The  complainant  also   sustained mental agony and  forced to file this   complaint  by engaging advocate, for which he  should be  compensated.

7.       Hence ordered :-

: O R D E R :

          The  case  be and  the same is  allowed in part     on contest  against opp.party No.1 and  exparte against opp.party No.2  .   The  opp.parties are jointly  and  severally  liable  for the  claim  of the  complainant. The   opp.parties   are directed to pay   Rs. 43,031.00  (Rupees Forty-Three Thousand   Thirteen)  only  along with interest @12% per annum from 15.05.2018  until payment  is made. The opp.parties are  further  directed  to pay an  amount of Rs.15,000.00 (Rupees Fifteen  Thousand) only as compensation   and Rs.5,000.00 (Rupees Five Thousand) only towards cost of  litigation to the  complainant.  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.