Ashok Bhan, President—Rajasthan Financial Corporation-petitioner herein, which was the opposite party before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Sirohi (hereinafter referred to as ‘the District Forum’ for short), has filed the present revision petition against the Order dated 8.12.2005 in Appeal No. 886 of 1997 passed by the Rajasthan State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Jaipur, Rajasthan (hereinafter referred to as ‘the State Commission’ for short). The State Commission, by the impugned order, has set aside the order passed by the District Forum. District Forum had dismissed the complaint holding that the respondent/complainant was not a ‘consumer’ within the meaning of Section 2 (l)(d) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’ for short).

2. Briefly stated, the facts of the case are:

The complainant/respondent participated in the auction held by the petitioner. The auction was in respect of movable and immovable properties. Complainant’s bid of Rs.34,50,000 being the highest, was accepted and, later on, approved by the State Government. The complainant deposited a sum of Rs.1,75,000 at the time of giving the bid. As the comp