Mr. Justice S.S. Sandhawalia, President— Whether the unsuccessful applicants seeking allotment of shares in the public issues floated by incorporated Companies would become consumers within the meaning of the definition under the Act? This is the core question having national ramifications in this appeal.

2. The significance of the question merits an indepth and exhaustive examination, though the facts giving rise thereto lie in an admittedly narrow compass. More than a decade ago, limited company of renown advertised its public issue of shares in the newspaper. The respondent in response to the same made an application for the allotment of shares with the requisite deposit of Rs.450/- only. It is common ground that he was not allotted any shares and the grievance sought to be made out in the complaint was that the amount aforesaid had not been actually refunded and received by him till the filing of the complaint late in the year 1992. It was however admitted that a refund order of the said amount dated the 28th of May, 1992 had been sent by the appellants to the respondent who had accepted the same, but still claimed that he was either entitled to interest at 18% p.a. from th