Mr. Justice M.S. Rane, President—None present on behalf of either appellant or the respondents. This is the consistent position in the past. On three occasions; it is noticed, under our directions, office of this Commission has intimated the dates of final hearing of the appeal to the parties. However, there is no response. The matter was before us on 28.9.2000 and 28.2.2001 for final hearing and on which dates none apeared and, therefore, matter was adjourned to 28.9.2001. On that date also none appeared and the matter was adjouned to 22.1.2001. Thereafter on 18.4.2001, 13.9.2001, 19.3.2002 and 28.8.2002, on all these dates, none remained present, despite intimating the dates of hearing.

2. The consumer dispute is pending since 1994, initially before the District Forum, Nagpur and since 1996 before this Commission and the reasons for the same are that all the parties are not serious and diligent in prosecution.

3. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 obliged the Forum to dispose of the consumer dispute with expeditiously. Recently the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in the case of Dr. J.J. Merchant v. Shrinath Chaturvedi, III (2002) CPJ 8 (SC)=(2002) CTJ 757, dated 12.8.2002, ha