Per Mr. P.N. Kashalkar, Hon’ble Judicial Member :

          Mr. Vikas Shinde files Vakalatnama, taken on record. 

          Heard advocate Mr. Samant for the revision petitioner and advocate Shinde for respondent. We have gone through the order passed by the South Mumbai Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Mumbai.  The order is challenged  since Opponent proceeded exparte.  District Forum directed Complainant to adduce evidence and brief note of arguments.  It appears that District Forum has not given proper chance to  opponent to contest the matter.  Moreover, it is an exparte order and there is no signature of  member sitting with the President on that date.  Order of the District Forum should be passed by the President and two members when both of them are sitting with him together or by one member if only one member is available to sit with the President.  But it is signed only by the President of the District Forum.  This is illegality and therefore, on this ground alone, we are inclined to set aside the said order.  Hence the following order :

                                      O R D E R

          The impugned order of District Forum directing to proceed exparte is quashed and set aside.  Ld. District Forum is directed to take on record written version of the Union of India.  Both the parties are directed to appear in the District Forum on 3.2.2012.  No order as to costs.

Pronounced dated 16^th January 2012.