Mr. Justice S.K. Dubey, President—This appeal is directed against the order dated 12.8.1999 passed in Case No. 121/1998 by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Hoshangabad (for short the ‘District Forum’) whereby the complaint for deficiency in service for non-supply of certified copies of certain documents of the Municipal Record inspite of deposit of Rs. 10/- as fee, was allowed with an order to supply certified copies within a period of 30 days of all the documents and to pay compensation of Rs. 800/- along with Rs. 200/- as costs of the proceedings.

2. Learned Counsel for the appellant submitted that merely applying for certified copies by the applicant on payment of requisite fees, the complainant does not become a consumer to invoke the jurisdiction of the Forum under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (for short the ‘Act’) as there is no question of hiring of service is involved. Counsel cited decisions of Punjab and Bihar State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions in cases of Gianchand v. Executive Officer, Municipal Committee & Anr., III (1995) CPJ 542, and S. Sadrul Haque v. The Inspector General of Registration, I (1995) CPJ 181.

3. The submission des