PANAJI
The posts of chairpersons or members of many of the State independent bodies are getting vacant and there has been a considerable delay in making appointments to the empty posts. The same state of affairs is feared to be soon witnessed in the Goa State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (GSCDRC) too where the chairperson’s position is empty since February 25, 2020. A year will be completed the next month since the post was vacant.
One of the female members of the commission is also completing her duration on February 14, 2021. It has been revealed that the delay in the process of appointing the chairperson is due to administrative and bureaucratic system. The commission is presently headed by Justice UV Bakre, former judge of the High Court (Goa Bench). As per the law, the Commission is headed by a sitting or retired judge of the High Court.
In today's times consumers are being cheated and duped on a very large scale. Taking a note of this, Consumer Protection Law 1986' was brought into force on December 24, 1986 in India. According to the provisions of this law, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions and District Consumer Forums were activated in every State. Changes were made in the Consumer Protection Law in 2019 and it was implemented on July 20, 2020.
According to these provisions, it is necessary that the retired judges of the Supreme Court be appointed as the chairpersons of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions in every State. There are provisions made in accordance to this. On District level, the appointment of retired District Judges has to be made on District Consumer Forums.
The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's former president, retired Judge UV Bakre had completed his tenure on February 25, 2020. After that there has been no appointment announced on this post which is vacant since then. It has been 11 months now that the post has not been filled. Another member, Vidya Gurav will complete her tenure on February 14 2021. After she leaves, there would be only one member, Dhananjay Jog, on the Commission. His tenure began in 2018 and will continue till 2023. Hence, if new appointments are not done immediately, there would be only one working member on the Commission, which would hamper the running of this State body.
