The Ernakulam Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum is in a fix, with the cases in the district reaching a whopping 1,500. This is the second highest in the state after Thrissur. The number is high when compared to other districts such as Pathanamthitta and Idukki that have only 64 and 100 cases respectively. The number of cases is surging as the quorum entitled to pass the verdict is yet to be achieved, with two members short, apart from the president who heads the Forum. The Ernakulam Forum has only one member.
Though the Consumer Protection Act 1986 stipulates that the cases should be disposed of within three months of its filing, the Ernakulam district forum is not able to do so. It has been 10 months since the consumer forum is not in full swing. In the Ernakulam Forum, the president of the Forum hears the complaints but it is not free of legal issues. Besides, the Act states that another consumer forum has to be formed if the consumer cases exceed 1,500.
D B Binu, general secretary, Human Rights Defence Forum, said that Ernakulam Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum is one among the district consumer forums in the state which is functioning effectively. “But the number of cases too large for them to handle. As a result, many consumers are deprived of getting justice on time,” he said.
The fund crunch in the forum was also a pain for the consumer. “The revolutionary Consumer Protection Act 1986 was aimed at providing justice without exerting much financial burden on the consumer.“ Sadly, the purpose of the Act has been undermined as the consumers also have to buy stamps worth `40 to meet other charges of their case. There is no such mandate in the Act. This practice is increasing in the Ernakulam Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum,” Binu pointed out.
A Rajesh, president, Ernakulam Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, said they were forced to collect `40 for the stamps. “Each month, we get only Rs 5,000 for any activities of the forum which is not enough. We have around 1,500 consumer disputes,” he said.
Cases in the Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam and Kunnathunadu belt are rising. The request to hold a camp sitting in Muvattupuzha has been conveniently ignored by the government.
However, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob has said, “the government order to appoint the rest of the members to achieve the quorum has been issued and they will assume charge soon”.