Jammu, Apr 20: Even after over one year  since their inception , the  ‘Consumer Forums’ at district and Divisional levels have failed to serve the purpose of safeguarding consumers rights in  the light of Consumer Protection Act, - the lack of awareness among the people being the main reason.
 Highly placed sources said that lack of mass awareness has defeated the purpose behind the establishment of the Forums making these nonperforming entities and defunct at some places.
 Pertinently,  the state government had constituted Consumer Forums at all district head quarters, while d Highly placed sources District Consumer Forums at capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar were granted Divisional level Consumer Forum status. These forums are headed by Principal District and Session Judge as their ex-officio Presiding Officers.
 Sources said that also lacking required infrastructure, the public was little aware of establishment of these forums, there are very small number of cases pertaining to consumer disputes coming up for hearing. They added that the Judges were dealing with these cases in their office chambers.
 Initially there were only 8 consumer forums, 4 each in Kashmir and Jammu provinces, but with the passage of time these forums were constituted in each district, the sources added.  
 Secretary to the State Government, Law Department G .H. Tantray, while talking to Greater Kashmir said that establishment of Consumer Forums at district level to provide justice to the aggrieved consumers was a long pending demand being raised by various quarters. The State Government constituted consumer forum at district headquarters with Principal District and Session Judge as its ex-officio presiding officers, in December 2011. He added that consumer councils have also been constituted to suggest ways and means for redressal of consumer grievances.
 These consumer forums are working in all district headquarters of the state but there was little response from the consumers due to lack of awareness.
 He further added that it is jurisdiction of High Court of the state to provide requisite man power and other infrastructure to these consumer protection institutions.
 While reiterating the government’s resolve to provide a responsible and accountable administration to the people of the state besides safeguarding the rights of consumers, Tantray, appealed the people to register their grievances in various consumer ‘fora’ to seek justice.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST