The Madurai Consumer Protection Centre and advocates have expressed concern over the vacancies in the district consumer disputes redressal fora in Madurai and other southern districts.
“At least, 18 out of the 30 district-level fora in the State do not have permanent presidents for several months. In Madurai, the cases are heard only three days a week. A single president hears cases in Srivilliputhur, Madurai and Theni,” says advocate A.Haja Mohideen. “Even in the State-level commission, the posts of registrar and women staff members have not been filled yet,” he points out.
“A public interest litigation was filed sometime ago and the court had issued directions to the authorities to fill the vacancies in the district-level fora immediately,” says advocate I.Robert Chandrasekar.
“The Conusmer Protection Act mandates that cases should be disposed of within 90 days. Due to the vacancies in the posts of presidents and members speedy disposal is not possible. It is sad that Madurai, which has a bench of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, does not even have a permanent president in its district-level forum,” he adds.
“Without proper sittings in the district-level fora how will it be possible to complete cases within 90 days,” asks advocate T.Thirumurugan.
Madurai Consumer Protection Centre has recently sent a representation to State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to fill the vacancies. According to G.Muniasamy, secretary of organisation, the selection of members and presidents for the district-level fora has been completed, but the appointments have not been made.
