R.K. Patra, President — The moot question that arises for consideration in their appeal is as to whether a Government servant can raise a “consumer dispute” under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act’) claiming compensation against his officers on the ground that there was delay in disposing of his application for temporary withdrawal of money from the General Provident Fund (in brief G.P.F.).

2. Briefly stated, the case of the respondent is that while serving as Junior Engineer of the State Government at Titilagarh, he in April 1998 applied for temporary withdrawal of Rs. 70,000 from G.P.F. to defray the marriage expenses of his sister. As the amount was not made available to him at proper time, he had to take loan from a private financier to meet the expenses.

3. The Superintending Engineer however sanctioned withdrawal on 22.6.1999. The delay caused by him amounts to deficiency of service and because of such delay, he had to undergo mental shock and agony. He accordingly filed a complaint before the District Forum claiming compensation of rupees one lakh.

4. The appellants filed their written version separately. Their common case is that the r