Straight Answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">justice (retd) d p s chaudhary</span> president, state consumer dispute redressal commission on the functioning of panel in bihar: <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">what is scope of the commission and its district forums in redressal of grievances?</span> the commission is statutory body for redressal of grievances of buyers, consumers and also for services taken from different sectors, particularly doctors and advocates.the commission and its district forums are empowered to look into the grievances of affected consumers and buyers, who are cheated by suppliers of sub-standard, fake consumer goods who also charge exorbitant prices. the commission and forums are empowered to sanction compensation to victims by way of fines. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">and what about legal sanctions?</span> the commission and its district level forums are created under law, enacted by parliament. judgments are binding on every person. if its judgment is not accepted by concerned people or companies, they may even have to go to jail. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">how do the commission and its forums provide instant redressal of grievances?</span> it is very simple. any affected person can file a complaint on plain paper before the district level forum and this is unlike spending a lot of money on court fees and other paraphernalia. after going through the pleas of both the parties the forum is authorised to pass judgment within three months in each and every case. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">how would you describe the functioning of the commission in bihar?</span> it is a sad tale. one hampering factor is the low awareness level among the general public about the commission’s utility and the other factor is the state government’s indifference towards the concept. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">does the commission get central funding?</span> yes, a huge sum of money, totalling over rs 40 lakhs is sanctioned by the union government for creating the infrastructure for setting up the commission and its forums. but, this is lying unutilised by the state government. this government has even failed to pay for the day-to-day functioning of different forums. in fact, the commission and most of its forums are practically defunct. moreover, the government is yet to recommend names of members for appointment as members to forums. and the commission is on the verge of eviction from its present premises. </div> </div>