DIRECTOR POST AND TELEGRAPH Vs. L S SRIVASTAVA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is preferred under Sec.15 of the Consumer Protection Act against an order/award passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum on 17.6.95 in Civil Misc. Case No.4 of 95.

(2.) Fact of the case, in short, is that the respondent before us purchased 4 National Sevings Certificates of 6 years' duration, each amounting to Rs.5,000/-. The purchases were made on 26-2-88 and 14-6-88 from the Head Post Office, Gangtok. It was under Scheme No. VI. Each of the certificates of Rs.5,000/- indicated maturity value of Rs.10,075/- on expiry of 6 years. But while producing the certificates for payment on expiry of the date of maturity, the respondent was given @ Rs.9,505/- per certificate. Hence, the respondent filed the above noted Civil Misc. Case No.4 of 95 before the District Redressal Forum.

(3.) The contention of the appellants before the District Forum was that the maturity value was actually Rs.10,075/- for each certificate of Rs.5,000/- under Scheme No. VI while the Scheme or Issue was initially started in 1981 but some changes were made in the rate of interest w. e. f.1.4.87 and the maturity value was reduced to Rs.190.10 for each certificate of Rs.100/-. Since the respondent made the purchase in 1988, he became disentitled to the initial rate of return and he was to get it at the revised rate of Rs.9,505/- for each certificate of denomination of Rs.5,000/- It has further been contended by the appellants before us that while applying for purchase of the Savings Certificates (VI) Issue, the respondent agreed to bind himself with the provisions of National Savings Certificates (VI) Issue Rules/1981 and amendment thereto. But the certificates which were granted to the subscriber were of 1981 origin and it showed maturity value as Rs.10,075/- in place of Rs.9,505/-. It is the contention of the appellants that it was purely a clerical mistake and the issuing clerk just missed to amend the maturity value in the certificates.