ORDER

1. THE RESPONDENTS APPLIED FOR ALLOTMENT OF FLATS UNDER THE FIFTH SELF-FINANCING SCHEME UNDER CATEGORY 2 AND CATEGORY 3. EVEN AFTER THEY MADE FULL PAYMENT TOWARDS THE COST OF THE FLATS AND ALSO AFTER COMPLETION OF THE FORMALITIES REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED BY THEM, THE APPELLANT DID NOT DELIVER POSSESSION OF THE FLATS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. THE RESPONDENTS APPROACHED THE DISTRICT CONSUMER FORUM SEEKING DAMAGES FOR THE LOSS SUFFERED BY THEM ON ACCOUNT OF INORDINATE DELAY CAUSED IN DELIVERY OF POSSESSION OF FLATS. THE DISTRICT FORUM, AFTER CONSIDERING THE RESPECTIVE CONTENTIONS AND AFTER HEARING BOTH THE PARTIES, ALLOWED THE COMPLAINTS OF THE RESPONDENTS AND DIRECTED THE APPELLANT TO PAY INTEREST @ 18% ON ACCOUNT OF DELAY CAUSED BY IT IN DELIVERY OF POSSESSION AND A SUM OF RS 2000 WAS ALSO AWARDED AS COST TO EACH ONE OF THE RESPONDENTS. THE APPELLANT FILED AN APPEAL BEFORE THE STATE COMMISSION CHALLENGING THE VALIDITY AND CORRECTNESS OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THE DISTRICT FORUM. THE STATE COMMISSION, WHILE AFFIRMING THE FINDINGS RECORDED BY THE DISTRICT FORUM, REDUCED THE RATE OF INTEREST TO 15% AND IN OTHER RESPECTS THE ORDER OF THE DISTRICT FORUM WAS CONFIRMED. THE MATTER DID N