(1.) -THE District Forum, Balasore in its order dated 25. 4. 2006 has held that it has no jurisdiction to decide the complaint. Being aggrieved by the said order, the complainant has filed this appeal.
(2.) UNDER Section 11 (2) (c) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 a complaint can be instituted in a District Forum within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the cause of action, wholly or in part, arises. The appellant filed the complaint against the respondent alleging deficiency in service. His case is that the respondent made an advertisement in the daily "the Samaj" stating that 10 grams of silver would be available out of one litre of x-ray fixer water from the machine "silver Extraction Plant Model SX-300". On being induced by the said advertisement, he purchased the machine from the respondent on payment of Rs. 75,249. After installing the machine he found it to be a bogus one. According to the appellant, it is a clear case of deficiency of service on the part of the respondent.
(3.) MR. Kar, Counsel for the appellant submitted that the cause of action has arisen within the jurisdiction of Balasore District Forum for the reason that respondent sent the machine from Cuttack to Balasore through the transporter Economic Transport Organisation. The consignment was received at Balasore and the defect was noticed while putting the machine into operation. Mr. Ghose on the other hand submitted that in the complaint the appellant has not averred that the cause of action has arisen within the territorial jurisdiction of Balasore District Forum. We may say that the complaint contemplated under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 need not be in the form of a plaint filed in the suit. The proceedings under the Consumer Protection Act are summary in nature and, therefore, the rigours applicable in a proceeding under the C. P. C. cannot be extended to the proceeding under the Consumer Protection Act. Mr. Kar has produced before us the copy of the consignment from which it appears that the consignment was sent from Cuttack to Balasore on 26. 4. 2002. The consignment reached Balasore where it was installed and put to operation. It was found to be a bogus machine, as alleged. Therefore, cause of action arose within the Balasore District Forum.