Mr. Justice A.P. Chowdhri, President — Lt. Col. N.C. Mitra, hereinafter referred to as the complainant, deposited his baggage comprising three VIP suitcases and one air-bag in the Cloak Room at New Delhi Railway Station on 28.9.92 for which he was issued four receipts. On the following day when the complainant went to collect the baggage, one VIP suit-case bearing receipt No. 887436 was found missing. The matter was reported to the Station Supdt., New Delhi Railway Station and First Information Report was lodged with the GRP Police Station. Alongwith the FIR a list of articles, cash jewellery etc. which had been placed in the suit-case totaling Rs. 18,875/- was given. The complainant addressed a letter to the Chief Commercial Supdt., Northern Railway on 23.10.92 and on receiving advice from him he also lodged a claim with the Chief Claim Officer on 16.2.93. The complainant failed to get any relief and accordingly approached the District Forum-II claiming the value of the goods lost besides compensation.

2. In the reply, the opposite party did not dispute the fact that the VIP suit-case had been deposited by the complainant and the same was found missing. It was, however, pleade