R.G. Desai, President — The facts of the case in brief are as follows :—

The complainant made three fixed deposits for Rs. 23,690/-, Rs. 6,300/- and Rs. 6,000/- on 23.3.1981, 15.4.1982, 18.4.1982 respectively with the Dharwad District Co-operative Purchase & Sales Union Ltd. a Co-operative Society, registered under the Co-operative Societies Act. The Fixed Deposit was for six months and the other two for three months. They were to be repaid with interest at 12% p.a. After maturity, the Society failed to repay the amounts inspite of demands or to renew the deposits. The complainant prays for recovery of Rs. 1,09,144.69 from Respondents 2 & 3 as reasonable compensation and other reliefs.

2. The fact of the fixed deposit is not disputed by respondents 2 and 3. Their main contention are that the complainant is not a consumer as per Section 2(d) of the Consumer Protection Act and that the claim is barred by time.

3. No evidence was adduced by the parties. We have perused the records and heard the arguments of the learned Counsels.

4. At the time of arguments, the learned Counsel for the respondents 2 & 3 did not seriously dispute that the Co-operative Society was offering Banking servi