BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has asked the Government to issue an order or a circular asking deputy commissioners to comply with the orders of the consumer courts regarding the compensation awarded by them.

According to Section 25 (3) of Consumer Protection Act, the consumer courts, on an petition, may issue a certificate by which deputy commissioners shall proceed to recover the compensation awarded to a person. The deputy commissioners shall recover the amount in the way arrears in land revenue is recovered.

President of the Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Chandrashekariah told presspersons on Saturday that the Deputy Commissioners were found not acting on the certificates issued by the consumer courts. A total of 1,324 petitions for execution of the court's order were pending in the State, he said.

A letter has been written to Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, bringing the inaction of the deputy commissioners to his notice. The Principal Secretary has been asked to initiate steps for issuance of an order or a circular directing the deputy commissioners to act on the certificates within 45 days, Mr. Chandrashekaraiah said.

He reiterated the need for improving the condition of the State commission and the district dispute redressal forums for serving people in a better way.

Many of the consumer courts, including the State consumer commission, were in rented premises.

The State commission, he said, did not have enough space to keep the files of cases filed before it. There was no adequate space to accommodate the other members of the State commission. "My request to provide space in the Multi-Storeyed Buildings or in the Karnataka Public Service Commission has been rejected," he said. The owner of the present premises has issued a notice asking the commission to vacate, he added.

Mr. Chandrashekharaiah said the poor response to the Lok Adalat held on Saturday revealed lack of cooperation from lawyers, government departments and even the complainants and defendants.

"This is the second time that the commission is holding a Lok Adalat where 37 cases were posted for hearing. Of these, only eight could be settled and compensation of Rs. 2.96 lakh was awarded. Despite notices being issued a month ago, the lawyers and officials have been indifferent. The absence of the counsel for KPTCL was glaring because there were several cases against them," he remarked.

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