S.C. Agrawal, J.—An application has been filed on behalf of respondent No. 12 for further extension of time to deposit the sum of rupees five lakhs. The said respondent was directed to deposit the said amount within two weeks under the order dated November 17,1997. The period for making the said deposit was extended by two weeks under the order dated January 9,1998.

2. We have heard the learned Counsel for the said respondent/applicant on this application. In our opinion the case is made out for grant of further time for making the said deposit. The application for extension of time is, therefore, dismissed.

3. Mr. A.K. Ganguli, the learned senior Counsel appearing as amicus curiae, has pointed out that in the report of the Oil Co- ordination Committee, which is filed as Annexure R-4 to the affidavit of Shri O.N. Singh, Dy. Secretary to the Government of India, it is stated that respondent No. 12 has collected funds to the tune of Rs. 30 to 35 crores. Having regard to the aforesaid circumstance, we consider it necessary to give suitable directions for safeguarding the interest of the consumers who have made the deposit with respondent No. 12. It is, therefore, directed that—

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