RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug.2: Quasi-judicial bodies set up in the State to give relief to common people without delay have become non-functional. Nobody is in a situation to tell when they will be functional.
A high court lawyer, Arvind Kumar Lall, who has filed more than 40 cases in the district consumer forum and state commission and is now waiting for a hearing in the matter, made aware of this problem presenting examples of consumer forums.
“The system set up to resolve the consumer disputes in the State under the provisions of Consumer Protection Act 1986 has collapsed and authorities do not know when the system will be functional. The District forum of the capital district has not been running since June 30, 2018, while the state forum is not functional for one and a half years. As far as I know, a similar situation prevails in consumer forums in other districts also, “Lall said expressing his concern over the situation.
Another advocate, who did not want to be named, supported him saying “number of pendency of consumer disputes is not less than 2000. The situation has given advantages to those who adopt unfair trade practices and do not give proper service to consumers.”
Former chairperson of the State Commission for Women, Kalyani Sharan, echoed Lall presenting an example of the body with which she remained associated.
“Since I completed my tenure on June 6 last year with other members, there is no one to take care of women’s issues in the State Commission for Women. People often call me for help and I, despite not being in power, have to do something as a social worker for their help. God knows when the commission will start functioning again,” Sharan said.
Former member of the same commission, Vasvi Kido, expressed the seminal view saying she also gets calls for help from women and does what she can do at her level best.
“People having my phone number call me for help though presently I am not in the commission and have no power to tell anything to anyone. The situation is very pathetic. Except for accepting applications, the State Commission for Women is doing nothing,” Kido said.
One of the advocates taking cases of Jharkhand Education Tribunal (JET) admitted the fact presenting an example of the quasi-judicial body where he practiced.
“JET is set up to settle disputes of education institutions but it has no members. It is somehow being run by the chairman single-handedly. Without members the purpose of setting up a tribunal has turned futile” the advocate said.
The Consumer forum is under the department of food, public distribution and consumer affairs department. Minister and secretary of concerned department Rameshwar Oraon and Himani Pandey could not be contacted for their comments despite several attempts.
One of the members of Jharkhand State Consumer Protection Council, Madan Lal Agrawal confirmed the situation saying the process for the appointment of members is on.
“Advertisement for appointment of members was published a month ago. Today is the last date for filing an application. I hope the appointment of members will take place soon,” Agrawal said.
When contacted, Women and Child Welfare department minister Joba Manjhi for her comment on the condition of the State Commission for Women she said the process is on for appointment of members.
“Six to seven applications have come. We will take a decision soon,” Majhi said without giving any deadline for the same.
Regarding the appointment of JET members, the secretary of the department of school education and literacy Rajesh Sharma gave a similar reply.
“The advertisement for two posts has been published. The appointment will be done soon,” he said. He, however, also did not give any deadline for the appointment.
