(1) The office of the District Forum shall be located at the headquarter of the District, where the State Government decides to establish a single District Forum having jurisdiction over more than one district, it shall notify the place and jurisdiction of the District Forum so established.



(2) The working days and the office hours of the District Forum shall be the same as that of the State Government.



Provided that, if any of the members of the Forum is a part timer, the President shall fix the timings in consultation with such member. However, while fixing such timings the President shall ensure that two of the members shall be present at one time at least for two hours in a day.



(3) The official seal and emblem of the District Forum shall be such as the State Government may specify.



(4) Sitting of the District Forum, as and when necessary, shall be convened by the President.



(5) State Government shall appoint such staff, as may be necessary to assist the District Forum in its day to day work and perform such other functions as are provided under these rules, or assigned to it by the President.



(6) Where the opposite party (Defendant) admits the allegation made by the complainant, the District Forum shall decide the complaint on the basis of the merit of the case and documents present before it.



(7) If during the proceedings conducted under section 13, District Forum fixes a date for hearing of the parties, it shall be obligatory on the complainant and opposite party (Defendant) or its authorised agent to appear before the District Forum on such date of hearing or any other date to which hearing could be adjourned. Where the complainant or his authorised agent fails to appear before the District Forum on such day, the District Forum may in its discretion either dismiss the complaint for default or decide it on merit. Where the opposite party (Defendant) or its authorised agent fails to appear on the day of hearing, the District Forum may decide the complaint ex parte.



(8) While proceeding under sub-rule (7), the District Forum may, on the reasonable grounds at any stage, adjourn the hearing of the complaint but not more than one adjournment shall ordinarily be given and the complaint should be decided as far as possible within 90 days from the date of notice received by the opposite party (Defendant) where complaint does not require analysis or testing of the goods and as far as possible within 150 days if it requires analysis or testing of the goods.



(9) Orders of the District Forum shall be signed and dated by the members of the District Forum constituting the Bench and shall be communicated to the parties free of charge.



(10) When the hearing takes place at the time when all members of the District Forum are present, the opinion of the majority shall be the order of the Forum.