POST OFFICES RAIGARH DIVISION Vs. VIJAY KUMAR BHATTACHARYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal under Sec.15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is directed against the order dated 5.1.2004 in Complaint No.10/2002 by District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Sarguja (hereinafter called the 'distt. Forum' for short) directing the appellant to pay to the complainants Rs.4,431/- with interest, as also Rs.250/- as compensation and cost of the complaint.

(2.) Undisputably the complainant/respondent herein opened two national saving scheme accounts under National Saving Scheme Rules, 1987 (hereinafter called as 'nss Rules' for short ). The first account bearing No. A/e 4016 was opened by the complainant/respondent on 15.5.1989 at Sub-Post Office Bisrampur. The 2nd of such NSS account bearing No. A/e 4167 was also opened by him at the same Sub-Post Office. It is also not in dispute that the maturity amount of Rs.20,116/- regarding account No. A/e 4016 was paid to him on 30.8.1994 while the maturity amount of Rs.12,231/- was paid to him regarding account No. A/e 4167 on 11.1.1994. However, later on the appellants informed the complainant/respondent that under Rule 4 of the NSS Rules, 1987 only one account could be held by an account holder. Therefore, the 2nd account No. A/e 4167 opened by the complainant was against the said rules. Hence, as interest was not payable on the said 2nd account, the appellant/department directed the complainant to refund the amount of Rs.4,431/- paid to him as interest in account No. A/e 4167. Complainant accordingly refunded the amount to the appellants on 6.9.2000.

(3.) The complainant/respondent averred in the complaint that the direction to refund the above amount of Rs.4,431/- was unwarranted. Hence he prayed that the above amount be directed to be refunded to him and compensation be also awarded.