‘Headless’ consumer panels pile on cases

Every consumer district forum is to be headed by a president and two other members,who hold office for five years. With the post of president lying vacant at the Tis Hazari,Janakpuri and KG Marg consumer forums,verdicts cannot be passed on existing cases as only the president is empowered to do so. At the forums in Nand Nagri and Sheikh Sarai,presidents have been appointed on an ad hoc basis.

A member of one of the forums said: “Judgments are being deferred by six months because there’s no president,leaving consumers in the lurch. The Supreme Court has clearly laid down that the vacancies have to be filled up at least four to six months in advance.”

Viney Singh,a member of the Qutab Institutional Area forum,said,”There is always a delay in filling up the vacancy for the post of member or president. What’s worse is that the forums have no staff or facilities either. In my court,there’s no clerk or stenographer to type out judgments. There are no provisions for clean drinking water or toilet facilities.”

Principal Law Secretary M L Mehta,one of the members of the selection committee,admitted: “While appointments should have been made at least two to three months ago,there’s been a delay in conducting interviews. All vacancies will be filled by September-end.”

Delhi’s Food and Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf,who heads the Consumer Affairs wing,said: “The procedure of advertising for the post,interviews and appointments is bound to take time. Interviews for all vacant posts are going on. They will be filled in the next 15-20 days.”

G G Barapatre,Additional Commissioner,Food and Supplies,had a different timeline. “The interviews of candidates have been completed. Appointments will be made in the next two to three days.”

Mehta,however,added,“The government has set up mediation centres in Qutab Institutional Area,Vikas Bhawan and KG Marg to ease the backlog. More will come up. Litigants will then have more scope for out-of-court settlements.”

A forum member,however,said this will not help dispose of the backlog. “Out-of-court settlements can be done even during a hearing. What use are mediation centres if they don’t help dispose of existing cases?”