Failure to implement price display rule alleged

The directive of the Ernakulam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum to implement the rules requiring shop owners to display the prices of essential commodities continues to be flouted by the authorities concerned.

The petitioner who obtained the directive from the forum is all set to file a contempt petition against the authorities concerned for their failure to implement the directive. High Court lawyer Basil Attipetty, who moved the forum when the prices of essential commodities started skyrocketing, said that the forum had directed the Kochi city police Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Aluva Rural, to file a report after implementing the order of the forum. However, the police officers were yet to file a report on the compliance of the directive. He said that he would soon file a contempt petition against the officers for not filing reports before the forum.

Steps needed

Passing an order on his petition, the forum headed by its president A. Rajesh had directed the District Supply Officer and the City Police Commissioner and Superintendent of police, Aluva Rural, to take immediate steps to ensure implementation of the rule which makes it mandatory for shop owners to display the price list of essential commodities in their shops at a spot clearly visible to the consumers..

He had pointed out that implementation of the provisions of the Kerala Essential Commodities (Maintenance of Accounts and Display of Prices and Stocks) Order 1977 was all the more essential as prices of the essential commodities had gone through the roof. He had said that more often than not, most of the shop owners did not display the price list of essential commodities in front of their shops. Besides, the same commodities were sold at various prices in different shops and thus exploiting the consumers.

The failure of the authorities concerned to implement the rule had prompted the shop owners to jack up the prices of essential commodities, he said.

The petitioner had also contended that the police had been given ample power under the order to take action against shop owners for their failure to display the price list. However, the police were averse to taking action against the shop owners.