Consumer act needs more teeth8217;

8220;Every one will benefit if the reforms are carried out and the Consumers Protection Act gets some teeth. Today, we strongly feel that effective consumer laws are beneficial for both the industry and the consumer,8221; the FICCI spokesperson said.

The committee has suggested that the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, must be expanded to include all related and incidental services and facilities connected with banking,financing, insurance and transport. And that the realm of housing8217; service should be updated to include time-sharing resorts as well.

8220;This will amplify the scope of service8217; under the Act. Take the insurance sector for instance, the industry faces the same problems as the individual insurer. So all insurance litigations should come under the consumer courts,8221; said the FICCI spokesperson.

To improve the dismal conditions of the consumer courts, the committee asked the state governments to prescribe the salary allowances and honorarium of the District Forums members. 8220;This would mean greater autonomy for the consumer courts which are hamstrung without budgetary support,8221; said consumer activist J N Jogi.

For speedier disposal of cases, the consumer courts have been asked to send notices to the opposite party within 21 days of the receipt of the complaint.The State Commission has been asked to set up circuit-court camps at regular intervals in different regions of the states. This would ensurespeedy redressal of the complaint in rural areas.

8220;The complainants from rural areas face enormous problems turning up at far-off District Forums hearings. Now the courts would have the option to travel to the consumer than the other way round,8221; the FICCI spokesperson said.