Mr. Justice B.N. Sinha, President — This appeal is directed against order dated 16th September, 1991 passed by the District Forum, Bhojpur at Arrah in Case No. 37 of 1991 in which the appellant was the opposite party (hereinafter called the opposite party) and the respondent was the complainant (hereinafter called the complainant).

2. The complainant is an Association of Fair Price Dealers of Bhojpur who are licensed dealers under relevant orders framed under Section 5 of the Essential Commodities Act. The opposite party’s duty is to ensure distribution of essential commodities to the citizens in the State of Bihar on reasonable rate or rates fixed by the State Government and/or the Central Government from time to time. The essential commodities are invariably distributed by the opposite party through the Fair Price Dealers who procure those articles from the opposite party on payment and sell those articles to the consumers. The complainant filed this case before the District Forum alleging irregularity in supply of articles particularly Palmoline Oil by the opposite party to the Fair Price Dealers, though they have deposited their Bank Drafts for lifting those articles.

2. The