Consumer forums flay CDRF

MUMBAI, DECEMBER 25: Several consumer forums have voiced concern over thelack of proper infrastructure and the style of functioning of Con...

MUMBAI, DECEMBER 25: Several consumer forums have voiced concern over thelack of proper infrastructure and the style of functioning of ConsumerDispute Redressal Forums in the country on the eve of Consumer Act daytoday.

Delayed judgement, lack of monitoring of judgement and non-enforcement ofthe already delayed judgedment in CDRFs defeat the very purpose of theConsumer Act, introduced on December 26, 1986, according to several leadersof consumer forums.There was an urgent need to revamp redressal machinery inthe state by increasing number of consumer courts and their workingconditions with quality manpower, they said.

Vijay Jathanna of Consumer Guidance Society of India said quot;the CDRF are in apathetic conditions as there are no stationaries available for the judgementto be typedquot;. quot;Because of few CDRF, consumer courts take a long time and sothe speedy act within 90 days as per the act is becoming impossible,quot; hesaid.For a population of 1.5 crore in the metropolis there are only twodistrict level CDRF and therefore are burdened with a large number of cases.

There is only one state level court in Maharashtra.President of UnitedConsumer of India Harish L Khatri said Mumbai and Thane region alone needsat least 20 courts. Although the Act was drafted for inexpensive and aspeedy redressal because of lack of proper infrastructure, the consumers arenot even able file public interest litigation.

Talking about one of the lacunaes in the Consumer Act of 1986, Khatri saidafter the introduction of the Act, the guarantee given by the manufacturershas been converted into warranty which affects consumers as in the former,facility for replacement was available whereas in the latter, facility isonly for servicing.In India, there are 750 consumer organsitions, approvedby central and state governments, and 250, registered with charitycommissioner and not approved by government, he said.

Swarna Kholi, president of Women Graduates Union Consumers and Civil AffairsCommittee, stressed the need to appoint professionals in consumer courtswith experience. quot;Due to interference by politicians, consumer organisationsare not getting sufficient representation in the vigilant committees,redressal forum and state protection councils,quot; Khatri said. Sucheta Dalal,journalist and a member of the Consumer Education and Research Centre,Ahmedabad, said besides improving the conditions of forums, the mostimportant thing is right to information8217;.