We allow the appeal and set aside the impugned order dated 28/02/2014 and allow the complaint in terms of prayer (1) and direct OP No. 1 to refund to the Complainants the sum of Rs. 40,000/- with pending and future interest @24% per month from December’98 until payment. The Complainants are held entitled to costs of Rs. 12,000/- of the complaint in terms of prayer (2) thereof and another sum of Rs. 5000/- being costs of this appeal. Complaint and appeal shall stand disposed off accordingly.

We note that the Lr. District Forum has taken more than 14 years to dispose off the complaint, a complaint, which was required to be disposed off within 3 months or so in terms of sub-section (3A) of Section 13 of the Consumer Ptotection Act, 1986. In case the Final Order/Decree is not complied with by OP No. 1 and the Complainant is compelled to file execution proceedings to execute the same, we direct that such proceedings be disposed off, on merits of the same, as expeditiously as possible and in any event as per mandate of Section 13(3A) of the Act.