Mr. Justice J.D. Kapoor, President—On account of deficiency in service in not delivering the passport of the respondent which was transmitted by registered post by the respondent No. 2, Regional Passport Officer, the appellant has vide impugned order dated 18.8.1997 been directed to pay Rs. 5,000/- as compensation and cost for the harassment and inconvenience and avoidable duress he has been subjected to. Feeling aggrieved the appellant has preferred this appeal.

2 The Counsel for the appellant has referred to the provision, of Section 3 of the Indian Postal Act which only renders the appellant liable to pay Rs. 100/- for mis-delivery or short delivery of an article or delivery of an article in damaged condition.

3. In our view this liability is only for the limited purpose and not for the purpose of compensating consumer on account of deficiency in service on the part of provider of service. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is an independent Statute and is self-contained and does not postulate any such liability that is limited to the extent as laid down in Section 3 of the Indian Postal Act. It was for the purpose of bringing efficiency in the working of the providers of serv