REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICE Vs. VIRENDER MEHTA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Regional Passport Officer, Chandigarh had come up in appeal against the order dated 16th April, 1993 passed by learned District Forum, Kaithal, whereby complaint was allowed and direction was issued to the appellant to issue passport to the complainant within the stipulated period and he was also directed to pay an amount of Rs.500/- to the complainants each for the expense, delay and harassment caused to them. On 23rd August, 1993, the Commission adjourned the case sine-die by passing the following order : "arguments of the learned Counsel for the appellant have been heard in part. The primal grievance that is sought to be raised was that the appellants in fact were not served and the ex-parte proceedings against them were unwarranted. The aforesaid submission is obviously to be entertained by the District Forum which issued the process. In view of this Mr. Walia prays that this appeal be kept pending and he would in the meanwhile move the District Forum for setting aside the ex- parte proceedings. We find no adequate ground for staying the order under appeal. However, this would not preclude the District Forum from staying the order or any other direction in the interest of justice. This appeal is consequently adjourned sine-die. The parties would be at liberty to move the Commission for reviving the proceedings after the decision of the application for setting aside the ex-parte proceedings".

(2.) Since more than three years have passed by now, the complaint must have been decided by the learned District Forum. Therefore, there is no point for keeping the appeal pending any further. Otherwise also, it has by now been settled that grievance regarding non-issuance of passport do not constitute consumer dispute and is thus not to be entertained under the Consumer Protection Act. Accordingly, the appeal stands disposed of with no order as to costs.