Chandigarh, December 10: Punjab Food, Civil & Consumer Affairs and Information Technology Minister Mr. Adaish Partap Singh Kairon today dedicated the third bench of Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to the public with a view to drastically reduce the number of pending consumer cases to provide speedy justice.
Presiding over an impressive function organized in the premises of newly constructed building of Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission here in Sector -37, Mr. Kairon said that the Commission plays an important role in providing speedy justice to the consumers betrayed by the companies as in some cases. He said that though the amount was not so big but it was the matter of hurting of their sentiments and a feeling of denied justice. He said that now these days the sense of justice was prevailing amongst the consumers and resultantly more and more people were coming forward to get justice against the false promises made by the companies. He pointed out that the speedy justice for consumers becomes the need of hour as generally in these cases complainants do not pursue their cases. He said inordinate delay in justice can defeat the very purpose of security to consumers as provided by our consumer laws. He said that the purpose of setting up of third bench was to cut short the pendency of consumers’ cases at State level to two months and he was quite hopeful to do so as a record 7873 cases have been finalized during the period between years 2007 to November, 2011 at state level. He said that he was informed that between the year 2007 and October, 2011, 45312 cases have been decided through out the state. He said that Punjab becomes the only State in north India having three benches at State Commission.
The Minister informed that the number of District Consumer Forums in the State has increased from 17 to 20 as new District Consumer Forums in three districts, Barnala, Tarntaran and SAS Nagar have been established now and the new districts of Fazilka and Pathankot would have these soon.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mr SN Aggarwal (Retd), President, Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission informed that not only the backlog of cases, which were pending since 1999 has been cleared but the cases filed up to 31.12.2006 have also been finalized.
He informed that prior to present Government, the annual non-plan budget of the Punjab State Consumer Redressal Commission was Rs. 4,59,44,000/- ,which has now been enhanced to Rs. 11,01,98,000/- for the financial year 2011-12. Similarly there has been a substantial increase in the plan budget, which was Rs. 32,25,000/- during 2007-08, has now been enhanced to Rs. 77,13,000/- .
Earlier, Mr. DS Grewal, Secreatry, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mr. Piare Lal Garg, Brig. BS Tonk and Mr. Inderjit Kaushik (all members State Consumers Disputes Redressal Commission) also expressed their views on the occasion. Mr. SP Singh, Chairman, Pungrain was also present on the occasion.
