CHAIRMAN-CUM-MANAGING DIRECTOR ONGC LTD. . vs CONSUMER EDUCATION RESEARCH SOCIETY .

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of whether a relationship exists between private claimants and the appellants as consumer and service provider under the Consumer Protection Act. The Court held that the appellants, who were employees of ONGC, are bound to pay the disputed amounts as per the orders of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, emphasizing that the appellants' rights were not infringed. The judgment clarified the applicability of the ONGC's Self-Contributory Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefit Scheme, 1991, and upheld the lower courts' decisions regarding the payment obligations of the appellants.