MOHAN LAL Vs. PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Against the order dated August 6, 1991, passed by the District Forum, Bathinda, in complaint case No.25 of 23.2.1991, the complainant-appellant has filed this appeal under Sec.15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as, 'the Act' ).

(2.) By the impugned order, the District Forum order that the Opposite Party should pay Rs.700/- to the complainant by way of compensation for its delayed refunding the service line charges to him.

(3.) The order under appeal is signed by one of the members of the District Forum, Bathinda. It is not necessary to make a detailed probe into the matter, for we are of the opinion that this appeal should succeed on a short point namely that the order atleast should have been passed by two members of the District Forum. In view of this one single member of the District Forum, Bathinda, while passing the order under appeal, has exercised his jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity and that has affected the rights of the respondents as it was passed by a single member and therefore, it has to be set aside.