As per Han'ble Justice Shri V.K. Agarwal, President:-

1. This appear under section 15 or the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, is directed against the order dated 31.8.05 in complaint No. 74/2004 by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Bilaspur (hereinafter called "District Forum" for short) directing the appellant South Eastern Railway, to pay to the complainant/respondent; compensation of Rs. 15,500/- as also cost of Rs.300/-.

2. Indisputably complainant /respondent along with his family members were traveling from Agra to Bilaspur by Gondwana Express on 9.1.04 in AC. Sleeper Class. The complainant at Bilaspur discovered that his suitcase was stolen on way. He lodged report with GRP, Bilaspur upon which an offence was registered.

3. The complainant averred that AC. Sleeper coach in which, he was traveling was unguarded. The attendants were totally non co-operative and had to be woken up and pleaded ignorance about the incident as would be clear from his report lodged with the GRP Annexure A-2, of the complaint. According to the complaint, he suffered a loss of Rs.20,000/- on account of theft. Besides the above amount compensation of Rs.30,000/- towards mental suffer