12 years on, third District Consumer Forum yet to see the light of day

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17

Shocking it may sound, it has been over 12 years since Chandigarh Consumer Commission first wrote to the UT Administration to create a third District Consumer Forum in the city, but to no avail.

The matter is still stuck with the authorities concerned. At present, there is a Consumer Commission and two forums under it a the Sector 19 office.

Claims of upto Rs 20 lakh are heard in the two forums while more than 20 lakh claims are heard in the commission. Even, appeals against forum orders are heard in the commission.

However, in view of rising number of cases, the then president of the commission, Justice KC Gupta (retd), had sent a communication to the Administration in 2006-07 to start the third forum. Following which, several follow-ups were done at different time.

Even the incumbent commission president, Justice Jasbir Singh (retd), wrote to the Administration, but nothing had come of it till now.

The UT Administration had sent the matter to the Centre, where it was stuck due to the bureaucratic hurdles, said sources.

Cases not disposed of in mandated 90 days

According to Consumer Protection Act, 1986, consumer cases are to be disposed of in 90 days. However, in forums here, normally cases drag upto six months. While, there are some cases which take 8 to 12 months.

“The spirit of the Act will be achieved when cases will be disposed of in 90 days. If cases take more time than that, then the motive of the Act stands defeated. Though Chandigarh forum is doing better than forums in other states, if third forum is created, then the burden on the two existing forums will reduce. Cases will have quick disposal,” said an official.

“The UT Administration/Centre government should either reject or approve it. They should not keep the issue in limbo. They should make things clear,” shared another official.

When contacted, Justice Jasbir Singh (retd), said, “We had written to the Administration, which further sent the matter to the Centre government. It is with the Centre now.”

“The Chandigarh Administration has been very supportive and approved several other initiatives here,” he added.