Mr. K. Ranga Rao, Member—One S. Pandaiah and other Ryots of Nekkonda village in Jedcherla Mandal of Mahabubnagar District filed complaints numbered as CD 109 to 119, 127, 147 to 155 of 1992 and 36 of 1993 against the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Limited (1st opposite party) and Vasuda Agencies, Jedcherla (2nd opposite party) before the Mahabubnagar District Forum alleging that they purchased watermelon seeds manufactured by the 1st opposite party through the 2nd opposite party who is said to be the agent of the 1st opposite party and sowed the same in their respective lands and raised the crops by spending huge amounts for purchasing fertilisers, pesticides and for other agricultural operations, that because of the defect in the watermelon seeds the fruits were of stunted growth with less weight, and the yield was very low, on account of defective quality of seeds and that they sustained huge loss. They prayed for directions to the opposite parties to pay different amounts towards compensation depending upon the extent of their lands in which they raised the crop.

2. The 1st opposite party filed a counter contending that the Mahabubnagar District Forum has no jurisdiction t