Mr. Justice V.K. Agrawal, President—This appeal, under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, is directed against the order dated 30.10.2003 in Complaint No. 49/1999 by District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Raigarh (hereinafter called the ‘District Forum’ for short) directing that the appellant shall pay to the complainant/respondent No. 1 the difference of excess charges recovered for the telephone calls made by the complainant on 26.2.1999 and 24.5.1999 and that they should also pay to the complainant, compensation of Rs. 20,000/- with interest @ 12% p.a. payable from 22.9.1999 as also Rs. 2,500/- as cost of the complaint. Certain other directions in connection with unfair trade practice adopted by the PCO/STD operator have also been given.

2. Indisputably respondent No. 2 is operating STD/PCO centre at Kunkuri, District Jaspur under the licence issued by the appellant Telephone department. The complainant averred that he had made certain calls from the STD/PCO Centre run by respondent No. 2 on 26.2.1999. Respondent No. 2 realised more charges towards the said calls from the complainant. The complainant, therefore, lodged a complaint with the appellant No. 1 o