- (1.) Leave granted.
(2.) This appeal by special leave arises under the following circumstances : The first respondent is a voluntary consumer organisation in Kerala, registered under the Scientific, Literary and Charitable Societies Registration Act. Dr. P. Kamalasanan, Ram Nivas (Gayathri), Sasthamcotta, is a Member and Secretary of the 1st respondent. He had taken L.P.G. connection through Karthika Gas Agency who is the authorised distributor of the appellant. The said Karthika Gas Agency is the 2nd respondent.
(3.) The 2nd respondent committed several irregularities in giving gas connection and in providing refills of L.P.G. cylinders to him. The gas agency had given more connections than authorised by the appellant, the Indian Oil Corporation. That amounted to deficiency in their service. The 2nd respondent is the authorised agent of Indian Oil Corporation. However, the appellant Corporation did not take adequate care to ensure that the agency would not cheat the consumers. Notwithstanding the fact that the appellant was aware of the misconduct of the 2nd respondent, it did not take any effective steps to put a stop to the irregularities committed by the 2nd respondent.;