TAMILNADU JAI BHARATH MILLS LTD. vs HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORPN. LTD.

The Supreme Court held that complaints filed before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum should have been properly constituted as suits in a competent civil court. The Court set aside the orders of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, dismissing the complaints but allowing the complainants to file suits with the benefit of exclusion of time under Section 14 of the Limitation Act for the period spent in the consumer forums. The outcome emphasizes the necessity of proper jurisdiction in consumer disputes.