Altamas Kabir, J. - (1.) Leave granted.
(2.) SLP(C) No. 19314 of 2007, which is being heard along with SLP(C) No. 3119 of 2008, SLP(C)Nos. 9550, 10544, 11696 and 10547 of 2009, is directed against the judgment and order dated 27th July, 2007, passed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, hereinafter referred to as the National Commission. By the said order, the National Commission dismissed Revision Petition No. 737 of 2005, filed by the Appellant herein against the judgment and order dated 10th March, 2005, passed by the State Commission, Delhi. By its order dated 27th July, 2007, the National Commission modified the order of the State Commission and set aside the part of the order directing the Appellant to pay Rs. 50,000/- on account of punitive damages and further directed the Appellant to pay Rs. 10,000/- as cost to the complainant Respondent.
(3.) From the materials on record, it appears that on 4th April, 2000, at the initiative of the Respondent, a Hire-Purchase Agreement was entered into between the Appellant and the Respondent herein, to enable the Respondent to avail the benefit of hire-purchase in respect of a Maruti Omni Car. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the Appellant granted a hire-purchase facility to the Respondent for a sum of Rs. 1,82,396/-, which was repayable, along with interest, in 60 equal monthly hire charges of Rs. 4,604/- each. Clause 2.1 of the Hire-Purchase Agreement provides for payment of the hire charges in the manner stipulated in the Schedule to the Agreement and it also indicates that timely payment of the hire charges was the essence of the Agreement.;