- (1.) THE opposite parties in O.P. No. 282/2000 on the file of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North) are the appellants herein. The case of the complainant was as follows: They booked a consignment dated 1.6.1999 through the opposite parties to Raxaul, Bihar. The consignment contained specific items of engineering products meant for a particular industry/machines. The consignment was sent to the complainants' customer M/s. Krishna Industries. Even after two weeks, the consignment did not reach the destination, The consignee started questioning the complainant on the delay. In these circumstances, the complaint came to be filed.
(2.) THE defence set up was that the consignment along with other parcels was seized by the Sales Tax officials at Kolkata due to improper paper work. The opposite parties were therefore not responsible for any delay in the consignment reaching the destination. The opposite parties also claimed without prejudice to their contention regarding their liability to pay compensation that the amount was too excessive in nature and the complaint was liable to be dismissed.
(3.) BEFORE the District Forum, on the side of the complainant Exs. A -l to A20 were marked while no documents were marked on the side of the opposite parties. The District Forum, by order dated 29.7.2002 directed the opposite pa rties to pay a sum of Rs. 9,460 towards the cost of the consignment, Rs. 1,000 as freight charges and Rs. 2,000 as costs. It is as against that the present appeal has been filed.;