JUDGMENT

Deepak Gupta, J.

Leave granted.

2. All these appeals are being disposed of by a common judgment since the issue involved is common in all the cases.

3. At the outset, we may note that Shri Krishnan Venugopal, learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants submits that without prejudice to the rights of the appellants to challenge the impugned orders of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission as well as the Gujarat State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and the District Forum, the appellants shall pay the amount as directed in the impugned orders. This has been done because the amounts involved are small, the appellants had retired a long time back and they should not be forced to go into the second round of litigation.

4. The main issue involved is whether there is relationship of consumer and service provider existing between the private respondents (claimants) and the appellants.

5. The undisputed facts are that all the claimants were employees of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (for short ‘the ONGC’). A Self Contributory, Post Retirement and De