Thiru Justice M.S. Janarthanam, President—This appeal is directed against the order dated 23rd day of December, 1997 in O.P. No. 98/97 on the file of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Tirunelveli.

2. The appellants are the opposite parties while the respondents 1 to 3 are individual complainants and respondent No. 4 is Tirunelveli District Consumer Protection Association.

3. The complainants 1 to 3 are the residents of Sivanthipatti village near Palayamkottai. On 16.3.1997 at about 10.45 a.m. there was surge of voltage in the electric lines through which the complainants 1 to 3 were getting electricity supply to their houses. Owing to such surge of voltage, the colour T.V. sets, fans, jet motor were stated to have been damaged. As a consequence, they were stated to have suffered loss as per the particulars furnished in paragraph 2 of the complaint.

4. The 1st complainant preferred a complaint dated 17.3.1997 to the 1st opposite party who is the Assistant Engineer of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Maharaja Nagar, Tirunelveli in respect of the damage caused to the television set, fans, etc. in his house due to surge of voltage. The President of the Panchayat, Union of