The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Lack of support from State irks consumer panel chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Lack of support from State irks consumer panel chief

Staff Reporter

‘The department is dragging its feet on several issues’

Karnataka ranks first in disposal of consumer cases in the country
‘State Government is yet to release funds promised for infrastructure’

BANGALORE: Chandrashekariah, president of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission lamented the lack of support from the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in the commission’s work in improving the working of the district consumer forums.

Talking to presspersons here on Saturday, Mr. Chandrashekaraiah said the Principal Secretary of the department was not endorsing the measures taken by him in district forums. For instance, there is pending action on his recommendation of December 2006, to dismiss President of Haveri district forum Jayashree Ellur on disciplinary grounds. The official asked him to give effect to an order to transfer Ellur. “I did not have confidence in Ms. Ellur and hence did not allot any work. She was also suffering from cancer. I asked another president to discharge her duties.” Mr. Chandrashekariah said the department was also dragging its feet on giving in-charge allowance to district forum presidents who are sent to discharge the additional responsibility of the posts that are lying vacant. While a decision is yet to be taken to approve the selection of a new president to Bijapur forum, the process of selection is yet to begin in Davangere and Haveri.

The district forum presidents, who are handling additional responsibility “were not being given the allowance.” The in-charge allowance is about Rs. 870 a month. Mr. Chandrashekaraiah said the allowance was not being given despite the fact that some of the presidents were doing extra duty for more than four months.

Non-utilisation of funds

Mr. Chandrashekaraiah said the Government was lackadaisical in making use of Central funds for strengthening the infrastructure of consumer forums. The Centre has released Rs. 9.86 crore of which Rs. 2.34 crore has been slotted to strengthen the infrastructure of the State Commission and 30 district forums. Fifty per cent of this will be utilised for constructing buildings in Shimoga, Bellary, Chickamagalur, Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajanagar. “The State Government is yet to release the funds for the purpose,” Mr. Chandrashekaraiah said and added, “If we do not take any action by December, we may lose the Rs. 9-crore grant.” Much money is being paid as rent for housing many consumer forums, including the State Commission, he said.

Good progress

Despite these problems, Mr. Chandrashekaraiah said the State Commission and the district forums were doing well in providing relief to consumers in time. While the State Commission has disposed off 23,513 off 24,013 cases, the district forums have cleared 1.01 lakh of the 1.05 lakh cases. “Karnataka ranks first in disposal of consumer cases in the country,” he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka