S.A. Kader, President - This is a complaint under section 17 read with section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act.

2. The complainant delivered two panels of books, one to Kharagpur and another to Bhubaneshwar on 4.2.1988 at the Central Station, Madras. These books were intended for exhibition at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and Utkal University, Orissa. They were expected to reach the destination within 3 or 4 days. The parcel intended for delivery at Kharagpur was received there only on 27.2.1988 and could not therefore, be used for the exhibition.

They were, therefore, re-booked to Madras. The parcel intended for delivery at Bhubaneshwar was lost in transit. The complainant, therefore, claimed compensation in the sum of Rs.3,80,746.26 being the value of five bundles of books booked for delivery at Bhubaneshwar, and Rs. 50,000/- as compensation for loss of profits, c mental agony and inconvenience and another sum of Rs. 50,000/- for delay in the delivery of the parcels booked for delivery at Kharagpur.

3. The opposite parties challenged the maintainability of the complaint by virtue of section 15 of the Railway Claims Tribunal Act read with section 13(1) of the