The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Consumer forum goes without registrar for five months

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 13, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Consumer forum goes without registrar for five months

K.T. Sangameswaran

The post remains vacant for over five months

CHENNAI: The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) here, the apex body for consumer disputes in Tamil Nadu, is functioning without a registrar for the past five months.

As the post is vacant, the Commission's appeal examiner is discharging the registrar's duties and issuing certified copies of the SCDRC's orders on his behalf.

Enquiries reveal that the registrar of the appellate body is usually appointed in consultation with the High Court. The previous incumbent C. Subramani, on deputation from the High Court, retired in December 2004. But no successor has been posted till date.

The Commission has to look after the functioning of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Fora. The Union Government, in its latest amendment, enhanced the pecuniary jurisdiction of the fora from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh and that of the Commission from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 1 crore. Till March-end, there were nearly 2,900 appeal petitions and 450 original petitions pending before the SCDRC. Sources say that the Commission and several other district fora were also facing staff shortage. The number of staff members is less as against the sanctioned strength.

When contacted, a senior government official told The Hindu that the process of selecting the next registrar was in progress.

Discussions were being held with the High Court on the matter. The Commission would get a registrar soon, he said.

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