* Wants full-time members too for both forums * Sets June 30 deadline
PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has pulled up the State government for failing to ensure a full-time President for North Goa District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum and South Goa District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum as well as regular members for both such districts.
The High Court, while passing its judgement in a petition filed by one Arjun Virnodkar termed the action of the State government as 'indifferent' and directed it to constitute full-time North and South Goa Districts Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums in accordance with the provisions of the said Act on or before June 30, this year.
Virnodkar through his lawyer S N Joshi pointed out that the Act did not provide for an appointment of President on part-time basis and the government’s deeds were in breach of the objectives of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
“The objectives of the Consumer Protection Act are being defeated by arbitrary and untenable actions on the part of the Respondents in not appointing full-time Presidents for both the Districts,” he said.
Joshi further pointed that part-time members are working at half pace as, according to him, the matters are merely adjourned and the complaints are not being disposed off.
“We find that the action of (government) in appointing part-time members for such a long period would not meet the objectives of the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act. It is such indifference by (the government) which renders a well-meaning legislation intended to protect a large body of consumers from exploitation, ineffective,” the Bombay High Court at Goa said in the judgement passed late last month.
“In such circumstances, it is difficult to comprehend why the State government has been indifferent about the need to establish regular full-time District Forums in both the districts of the State of Goa. Despite recommendations, the fact remains that Respondents have shown no sense of urgency in setting up a full-time network for protection of consumers at the district level", the court said.
As of December, 2016, 262 original complaints and 100 Execution Applications are pending before the North Goa Consumer Forum and 128 original complaints and 6 Execution Applications are pending before the South Goa Consumer Forum.
For once, the Advocate General S D Lotlikar, did not dispute that a full-time President has to be appointed to ensure expeditious disposal of the petitions before the District Consumer Forums.
“The Government will have to take a decision to examine the viability of appointing two full-time Presidents or one full-time President for both the Districts considering the pendency and the area of cases of the State, for the time being,” Lotlikar told the court.
