Kareer made forum president

Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 16

Finally, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal (DCF) Forum has got its president after a long wait of more than six months. Former Principal Judge (Family Court, Ludhiana) KK Kareer has been made president of the forum here. Around 1,800 cases are pending.

Earlier, Kareer was posted as President, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Jalandhar. Working of the local forum was affected after the retirement of its former chief GK Dhir on December 27, 2019.

Lawyers have started getting messages from the Consumer Forum office to proceed further. But the forum will have to further wait for deciding any complaint till the appointment of at least one member, either on a permanent or makeshift basis by the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Punjab.

Though there were two posts of members in the local forum, no member has been appointed for a long time.

After the retirement of Dhir, the then members heard the disputes of consumers. But they were not able to decide the cases for want of requisite quorum. Member Jyotsana Thathai came from Jalandhar and another member Vinod Kumar Gulati attended the proceedings by travelling from Sangrur on alternate days. These members hardly worked jointly even a single day. Resultantly, no case was decided by them.

The state government did nothing about their travelling expenses and made no provision in the budget. Resultantly, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in mid-February directed these members not to visit Ludhiana. Hence, working of the forum came to a standstill.

Meanwhile, vice-president of District Bar Association Rajinder Pal Singh Babbar and Finance Secretary Manan Berry welcomed the posting of new President of forum.

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