Mr. Justice R.S. Mongia, President—This is an appeal by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (in short “PUDA”) against the judgment of the District Forum dated 19.4.2004 by which the complaint of the complainant was allowed in the following terms:

“13. In view of our discussion above, complaint is accepted and the opposite parties are directed to pay Rs. 500 as compensation for mental tension, harassment and costs of litigation and interest @ 12% per annum on the amount of Rs. 1,500 deposited as earnest money from the date of deposit till payment within one month from the receipt of the copy of the judgment. The copies of the judgment be sent to the parties free of costs. File be consigned to the record room.”

2. Brief facts are that the complainant had deposited a sum of Rs. 1,500 as earnest money for allotment of one anal of residential plot in Urban Estate, Garah Road, Jalandhar with the opposite parties. The said payment was acknowledged by the PUDA vide receipt No. 68 dated 16.6.1972. The application of the complainant was registered at Serial No. 162 of the register and the number was REO 267/GE-IK. The complainant urged that the PUDA neither informed the co