Govt to step in to reduce pendency of cases in consumer forums

The Delhi government will make efforts to reduce pendency of cases in consumer forums and directed to provide space for the proper functioning of four benches of the commission. The Minister of Consumer Forum department, Imran Hussain, directed the concerned officials to submit the list of pending cases in the forum by this week.

"The Department is actively pursuing finalisation of space with various land owning agencies like PWD, DUSIB, DSIIDC etc. A high-level meeting was also convened by the Minister in this regard recently wherein Principal Secretary of PWD assured necessary cooperation in this regard," said a senior official.

For the convenience of consumers and the general public, the government has set-up consumer courts in every district. Presently, there are 10 district consumer forums functioning in various parts of Delhi, the official added. These District Forums are located at Tis Hazari Court for North District; Udyog Sadan, Qutub Institutional Area for South -I and South-ii districts and in some other places. The Minister pointed out that Southwest District Forum is functioning from South District. He directed the department to expedite the efforts for shifting this District Consumer Forum to a site located in the Southwest District itself.

Hussain directed the Com- missioner of Food Safety to expedite the setting up of a new district consumer forum approved by the cabinet for Shahdara District.

Around 6,000 cases are registered per year in the commission and various District Consumer Forums and around 7,000 cases are disposed of by them.

Overall, there is pendency of about 18,000 cases, officials said. The minister has directed to clear all the cases in priority.

The minister also directed provision of sufficient staff for smooth functioning of the commission and district consumer Forums. The minister also directed for creating the separate cadre of staff for the state commission and district consumer forums.

Around 6,000 cases are registered per year in the commission and various District Consumer Forums and around 7,000 cases are disposed of by them