Mr. Justice R.S. Mongia, President—This is an appeal by the complainants whose complaint had been dismissed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Patiala vide order dated 16.11.2000.

2. The brief facts giving rise to this appeal may be noticed:

Complainants Madan Lal Chawla and his wife Smt. Asha Chawla had hired Locker No. 81 from the opposite party Central Bank of India, Branch Repture Township. The locker was last operated by complainant No. 2 Asha Chawla on 22.10.1994 (Karwa Chauth Day). On 16.1.1995 at about 4-30 p.m., Shri Tilak Raj Barara, Custodian of Lockers, Central Bank of India, Branch Rajpura Township, accompanied by one Shri N.K. Sharma, came to the business premises of complainant No. 1 Madan Lal Sharma to inform that their locker was lying unlocked. Complainant No. 2, on the asking of her husband, rushed to the Bank. On checking of the locker, she found to her surprise that the entire gold jewellery was missing from the locker. She informed her husband on telephone and he also reached the Bank. Complainant No. 1 lodged the report with the Police vide DDR No. 2 the same day. The complainants also made representation to the higher authorities of the Ba