Mr. Justice S.S. Dewan, President—In these two appeals Nos. 3 of 1992and 4of 1992 in which Bank of India, Bathinda Branch, is the appellant, as common question arises for consideration, they are disposed of by a common order. By these appeals, the opposite party- appellant questions the legality and correctness of the orders dated 16.12.1991 passed by the District Forum, Bathinda, in complaints Nos. 88 and 89 of 1991.

2. In view of the short point involved, it is not necessary to recount the facts in detail. Suffice it to state that the complainant-respondent had filed complaint No. 88 of 1991 purporting to be under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (for short, the Act) against the opposite party praying that the latter be directed to release the amount of F.D.R. No. 16/344 to the complainant alongwith interest and credit the same to his account in that bank and also be awarded compensation of Rs. 25,000/- for the harassment and business loss suffered by him. The opposite party-appellant contested the complaint on various grounds by filing the version of the case dated 21.10.1991. Besides raising the question of jurisdiction of the District Forum to entertain the