The Hindu : National : Government re-dedicates itself to consumer protection

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Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005

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Government re-dedicates itself to consumer protection

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 15. The Government today re-dedicated itself to the protection of consumer and its commitment to ensure ``quick, speedy, cheap'' justice under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 on the occasion of the World Consumer Rights Day.

There were two functions to mark the occasion. At one function organised by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, the Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti said the consumer movement was a ``socio-legal'' movement and there was no other law as powerful as this one for the common man.

He pointed out that in the world of business and commerce, the consumer had the money and power to purchase goods but was a weaker lot more so when businesses were being taken over by corporations. ``Law has to step in to protect the weak i.e. the consumer. Execution of law is more important than making them. A rational, not technical approach, should be taken.''

The Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister, Sharad Pawar, expressed concern at the backlog of cases in consumer courts and the non-implementation of orders passed. He suggested that heavy penalties be imposed on repeat offenders and cases be disposed of within a time-frame. For this he offered to bring amendment to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

The Minister said there was a proposal to enhance the number of members of the commission from five to nine. State Governments had been asked to provide infrastructure to the district and State fora. Additional funds would be provided to computerise and interconnect all 588 district fora, 35 State Commissions and the National Commission as part of government's e-governance programme.

The Union Law and Company Affairs Minister, H.R. Bharadwaj, sought more funds for strengthening consumer fora and increase the salaries of the presiding officers and members. He also sought perks like cars etc., for them.

The President of the National Commission, M.B. Shah, stressed on consumer awareness as well as education of traders, business and industry about ethics and their duty to the society.

At another function, Mr. Pawar launched the National Consumer Help Line (NCH) and Consumer Online Resource and Empowerment Centre (CORE) to empower consumers through information technology. This would improve the role of Voluntary Consumer Organisations and District Consumer Information Centres in ensuring that aggrieved consumers got proper compensation and defaulting parties were penalised. The Union Communications and IT Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, released a special postal cover to commemorate the World Consumer Rights Day.

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