STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION,
UTTAR PRADESH, LUCKNOW
APPEAL NO. 1552 OF 2015
(Against the judgment/order dated 01-09-2015 in Complaint
Case No.128/2003 of the District Consumer Forum, Deoria )
Smt. Durgavati Devi Verma
W/o Sri Bangali Prasad Verma
R/o Malvia Road, Deoria
District Deoria
...Appellant/Complainant
Vs.
U.P. Power Corporation Limited
District Deoria
Through Executive Engineer
...Respondents/Opposite Parties
BEFORE:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIRENDRA SINGH, PRESIDENT
HON’BLE MR. U S AWASTHI, MEMBER
For the Appellant : Sri B K Upadhyaya, Advocate.
For the Respondent : -
Dated : 04-08-2015
JUDGMENT
MR. JUSTICE VIRENDRA SINGH, PRESIDENT (ORAL)
We have heard Sri B K Upadhyaya, learned Counsel for the appellant at the time of admission of this appeal and perused the entire record.
This appeal has been filed by the appellant/complainant against the impugned order dated 01-09-2014 passed by the District Consumer Forum, Deoria in Complaint Case No. 128/2003 by which the District Consumer Forum has dismissed the complaint of the complainant stating reasons that the complainant is absent.
It is argued by the learned Counsel for the appellant that the exparte order passed by the District Forum is against the law. It is pleaded that the District Forum should have decided the complaint on merit. It is further submitted by the learned Counsel for the appellant that the District Consumer Forum has dismissed the complaint on 01-09-2014 thereby stating reason that the complainant is absent, while the evidence of both the parties are already on record and the file was ready of arguments of both the parties. Learned Counsel further pleaded that due to Advocates were on strike for long time the
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complainant could not know the date fixed in the complaint and the District Consumer Forum dismissed the complaint in default of the complaint.
After hearing of the learned Counsel for the appellant and perusing the record, we are of the view that once the complaint is filed and evidence is on record, it is advisable that the District Consumer Forum has to ensure the appearance of the parties and if all the opposite parties appeared and given time to file the written statement/counter affidavit, the complaint should not be dismissed in default of the complainant since each and every complaint is generally filed by the complainant supported by the affidavit of the complainant.
Though there is a provision in the Consumer Protection Act provided as per Section 13(2)(c) that where the complainant fails to appear on the date of hearing before the District Consumer Forum, the District Consumer Forum may either dismiss the complaint for default or decide it on merit but looking into this provision that the District Consumer forum have a right to dismiss the complaint for default or decide it on merit, we are of this view that this discretion of the District Consumer Forum should be used to decide the complaint on merit.
Hon’ble Supreme Court has held in the case of RAFIQ AND ANOTHER Versus MUNSHILAL AND ANOTHER (1981) 2 SCC 788 in respect to Practice and Procedure that contesting parties should not suffer for lapses on the part of their counsel. Ex parte order of dismissal of appeal was passed by High Court on non-appearance of appellant's counsel on the date of hearing in that case. Application made by counsel for recalling the order and for permission to participate in the hearing of the appeal was rejected on ground of unexplained delay in presenting the application to the court. Rejection of the application was not found justified as the party should not suffer for the inaction, deliberate omission, or misdemeanour of his agent, the lawyer. Costs was also ordered to be recovered from the counsel who absented in that case. The Apex Court Observed :
“ The disturbing feature of the case is that under our present adversary legal system where the parties generally appear through their advocates, the
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obligation of the parties is to select his advocate, brief him, pay the fees demanded by him and then trust the learned Advocate to do the rest of the things. The party may be a villager or may belong to a rural area and may have no knowledge of the court's procedure. After engaging a lawyer, the party may remain supremely confident that the lawyer will look after his interest. At the time of the hearing of the appeal, the personal appearance of the party is not only not required but hardly useful. Therefore, the party having done everything in his power to effectively participate in the proceedings can rest assured that he has neither to go to the High Court to inquire as to what is happening in the High Court with regard to his appeal nor is he to act as a watchdog of the advocate that the latter appears in the matter when it is listed. It is no part of his job. Mr A K Sanghi stated that a practice has grown up in the High Court of Allahabad amongst the lawyers that they remain absent when they do not like a particular Bench. Maybe, we do not know, he is better informed in this matter. Ignorance in this behalf is our bliss. Even if we do not put our seal of imprimatur on the alleged practice by dismissing this matter which may discourage such a tendency, would it not bring justice delivery system into disrepute. What is the fault of the party who having done everything in his power expected of him would suffer because of the default of his advocate. If we reject this appeal, as Mr A K Sanghi invited us to do, the only one who would suffer would not be the lawyer who did not appear but the party whose interest he represented. The problem that agitates us is whether it is proper that the party should suffer for the inaction, deliberate omission, or misdemeanour of his agent. The answer obviously is in the negative. May be that the learned Advocate absented himself deliberately or intentionally. We have no material for ascertaining that aspect of the matter. We say nothing more on that aspect of the matter. However, we cannot be a party to an innocent party suffering injustice merely because his chosen advocate defaulted. Therefore, we allow this appeal, set aside the order of the High Court both dismissing the appeal
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and refusing to recall that order. We direct that the appeal be restored to its original number in the High Court and be disposed of according to law. If there is a stay of dispossession it will continue till the disposal of the matter by the High Court. There remains the question as to who shall pay the costs of the respondent here. As we feel that the party is not responsible because he has done whatever was possible and was in his power to do, the costs amounting to Rs 200 should be recovered from the advocate who absented himself. The right to execute that order is reserved with the party represented by Mr A K Sanghi.”
Here in this case the complaint is dismissed in default of the appearance of the complainant and since the complainant could not appear before the District Consumer Forum on 01-09-2014, therefore, in such circumstances we are of this view that the impugned order is liable to be set aside and the District Consumer Forum concerned is to be directed to restore the complaint on its original number and after affording an opportunity of hearing to both the parties, the complaint should be decided on merit.
ORDER
The appeal is hereby allowed accordingly. The impugned order is hereby set aside. The concerned District Consumer Forum is directed to restore the complaint on its original number and decide the same on merit after affording an opportunity for hearing to both the parties within two months.
(JUSTICE VIRENDRA SINGH)
PRESIDENT
( U S AWASTHI )
MEMBER
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